Dominican Republic records 1,538 infant deaths during 2026

The Dominican Republic accumulated 1,538 child deaths through epidemiological week 40 of 2026. (Illustrative image Infobae)The Dominican Republic accumulated 1,538 child deaths through epidemiological week 40 of 2026, according to the Weekly Bulletin of the Ministry of Public Health. Of the total, 1,292 deaths occurred before 28 days of life. The report, covering October 4 to 10, notified 32 child deaths during the last week analyzed. Of these, 29 corresponded to newborns who died in the first 28 days, a stage that accounts for the greatest burden of infant mortality in the country. The cumulative figure includes the 32 events of week 40 and six late notifications incorporated into the surveillance system. The bulletin warns that the data are preliminary and may change after the definitive classification of each case, community searches, and the review of other official sources of information on morbidity and mortality. The weekly bulletin notified 32 child deaths in October, of which 29 corresponded to newborns. (Illustrative image Infobae)The concentration of deaths in the first days and weeks after birth places neonatal mortality as the main component of child deaths reported this year in the Dominican Republic. The official protocol considers a child death to be that of a live-born infant who dies up to 364 days after birth. It also includes cases with a minimum weight of 500 grams, 22 weeks of gestation, or a length of 25 centimeters from crown to heel. Within this classification, neonatal deaths cover fatalities occurring from birth up to 28 days of life. In turn, they are divided into early neonatal deaths, corresponding to the first seven days, and late ones, between the seventh and the 28th day. Deaths occurring later, between 29 days and before the first year, make up the postneonatal period. During epidemiological week 40 of 2025, 41 child deaths had been reported, compared to the 32 notified this year. In the last four weeks analyzed, between weeks 37 and 40, the bulletin recorded 176 child deaths in 2026, compared to 153 in the same period of the previous year. For its part, as of week 40 of 2025, 1,525 child deaths had been counted, while the 2026 record reached 1,538. The year-over-year difference is 13 deaths, although the Ministry of Public Health clarifies that the series are updated periodically. As of week 40 of 2026, child deaths totaled 1,538, 13 more than in the same period of 2025, according to data subject to update from the Ministry of Public Health. (Illustrative image Infobae)The Ministry of Public Health, together with the National Health Service (SNS), reported that it is strengthening surveillance of maternal, neonatal, and child mortality through clinical audits, systematic review of deaths, and monitoring of the quality of care. The authorities also mentioned the strengthening of referral and counter-referral mechanisms between health care centers, early identification of warning signs, and the availability of critical resources. The stated objective is to detect failures in care, correct them, and reduce preventable cases. The surveillance includes the review of the clinical, epidemiological, and territorial circumstances of the deaths recorded. The week 40 bulletin emphasizes that the greatest proportion of child deaths occurs in the neonatal period, so health actions are concentrated especially in the services that attend pregnancy, childbirth, and the first days of life.