NT Health downplays leap in infant deaths

THE number of infant deaths in the Northern Territory has risen close to 70 per cent since 2014, giving us an infant mortality rate greater than Kuwait, Thailand and Costa Rica

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THE number of infant deaths in the Northern Territory has risen close to 70 per cent since 2014, giving us an infant mortality rate greater than Kuwait, Thailand and Costa Rica.

According to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 37 babies died in the NT in 2018, up from 22 in 2014.

The Territory’s overall infant mortality rate has increased from 6.52 deaths per 1000 live births in 2013-14 to 9.56 in 2017-18.

But the Northern Territory’s health department has sought to downplay the astonishing increase, claiming the NT’s overall infant mortality rate had “risen slightly”.

The health department declined to provide an expert for interview, despite repeated requests from the NT News over four days.

NT's rising infant deaths

Year	Infant deaths
2014	22
2015	27
2016	27
2017	34
2018	37

In a written statement, a departmental spokeswoman referred to a one off increase in deaths in 2018 due to factors such as car crashes.

That does not explain the consistent increase in the number of deaths since 2014. Follow up questions to the department went unanswered.

The department gave no explanation for the factors behind the consistent increase, but its spokeswoman said the NT’s “persistent preterm birthrate” was a major contributor to infant mortality.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the increase in infants deaths was “not acceptable”.

“We need to do better as an entire Government,” he said.

“Every department and every program has a role to play.”

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Mr Gunner pointed to alcohol policy reform, investments in remote housing and the Family Nurse Partnership program as existing initiatives to drive down the infant mortality rate.

Flinders University Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health Kevin Forsyth said infant mortality was a “key indication of a society’s robustness, progress and equity”.

“There are many contributing factors, from environment, socio-economic landscape and education to health and medical services,” he said.