An in-depth analysis is needed to explore the reasons why Malta has a relatively high infant mortality rate, a country report has said.

While noting that caution was needed when interpreting the figures due to the blanket ban on abortion in Malta, “this fact alone may not fully explain such high mortality rates,” the Health Systems in Transitions report said.

Malta’s ban on abortion in all circumstances means that babies with lethal congenital disorders are carried to term.

The infant mortality rate in 2011 was 6.3 per 1,000 live births. This was higher than the EU average of 5.76 and much higher than the eurozone average of 3.55.

Only Bulgaria and Romania had higher rates in the EU.

The report also notes an increasing trend in Caesarean section rates at 335 per 1,000 live births, compared with the EU average of 268.

More in Times of Malta and the e-paper on timesofmalta.com Premium.

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