Mortality and health

Mortality rates in Latin America have come down in the past 50 years, essentially because of improvements in the field of health. Greater control of infectious, parasitic and respiratory diseases, immunization programmes and maternal education have had a direct impact in reducing infant mortality, albeit with large differences from one country to another, and between high-income groups and those who are poorer, revealing profound inequalities. CELADE-Population Division of ECLAC has paid particular attention to the subject and has undertaken a variety of activities accordingly, including in particular its provision of support to the countries so that they can prepare their mortality estimates and its participation in inter-agency working teams on child and maternal mortality.