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Infant deaths in a health unit area of Northern Sri Lanka.

Ninety-seven infant deaths that occurred during 1 year were almost equally distributed in the neonatal and post-neonatal periods. The low infant mortality rate (IMR) reported for the area was found to be due to poor registration of deaths. The actual IMR is 35.4. Lower respiratory tract infections and gastroenteritis were the chief causes of death, with low birth weight contributing to it. Among these deaths, as a conservative estimate, 20 have been identified as preventable. Prevention of these deaths would reduce the IMR to 28.1. Practitioners of indigenous medicine need training on the management of dehydration in infants, and the mothers should be taught the proper use of oral rehydration solution. Families belonging to low 'social caste' were more at risk of infant deaths. This study shows the importance of small, community-based investigations in order to identify vulnerable small socio-cultural groups in developing countries.