Canada'S Infant Mortality: A Developing World Within Its Borders

The infant mortality rate is the number of child deaths under 1 year of age/1000 live births. It is a central indicator of both health system effectiveness and socioeconomic conditions. However, Canada's infant mortality rate is unacceptably high for its level of healthcare and socioeconomic development. Canadians living in income-deprived areas and those experiencing health inequities have higher infant mortality rates than those in other areas. We introduce feasible healthcare practitioner activities that will promote improved social environments for children and contribute to bridging gaps in infant mortality.