Perinatal/Infant Health

Overview of Health Status for Infants

The number of registered births in Palau for 2018 was 256.  There were 250 singleton births and 6 multiple births. More than half of the births from 2014-2017 were male except for 2018 where 51% of the births were female.  Palau provides early screening for babies including metabolic and newborn hearing screenings through its UNHSI and genetic screening programs.  In 2018, 99% of infants born received newborn genetic and hearing screening. All the infants screened passed the newborn hearing screening. Two (2) infants were screened positive for Congenital Hypothyroidism and three (3) were screened positive for Glucose-6 Phosphate Deficiency.

Summary of Perinatal/Infant Health

Strength

Through strong community partnerships with the “Breastfeeding Community Workgroup”, a designated area within the health facility was established to provide health education and promote safe sleep and breastfeeding as a protective factor and a strategy to prevent infant mortality.  In 2018, 98% of infants born are breastfed at birth. Exclusive breastfeeding up to 3 months has remained the same from 55% in 2014 to 52% in 2018. About 40% of mothers’ said they stopped breastfeeding exclusively because they did not have enough breast milk.  35% said they had to go back to school or work.  19.4% said they had other reasons for not exclusively breastfeeding and about 6% said the baby was adopted.  

In promoting safe sleep, women are provided counseling and educational materials as part of the discharge plan.  In 2018, about 83% of women placed their infant to sleep on their backs.  13% said they either placed them on their back or side. And about 5% said they placed them on their stomach or chest. 

Furthermore, the Palau Non-Communicable Disease prevention and control included in their action plan (2015-2020) under “Improving Nutrition” to increase breastfeeding by mothers of infants up to 6 months of age by collaborating with Palau MCH and other community partners. 

Needs

Based on preliminary data for 2018, the infant mortality rate for Palau was 11.9 per 1,000 live births.  The 5 year average of infant mortality is at 12.9 per 1, 000 live birth from 2009 to 2018.  With Palau’s small population, the rate tends to fluctuate with small number of infant deaths.

2018 fetal mortality rate at 28 or more weeks’ gestation was 11.9 per 1,000 live births plus fetal deaths.  The five year running average from 2009 – 2018 was 16.2.  Fetal mortality is often under reported since data on spontaneous abortions are not collected.

In 2018, there were 29 preterm births of <37 weeks gestation in Palau representing 11.5% of live births.  About 3% were less than 34 completed weeks gestation. Majority of the preterm births are due to complications in pregnancy.

The percentage of infants born at low birth weight (LBW) of <2,500 grams has slightly decreased in 2018 at 11% as compared with 15% in 2014.  Birth weight distribution has moved toward more normal birth weight of 3,000 grams (6 lbs.) or more.  Average birth weight of infants born in 2018 was 3,081 grams (6.79 lbs. or 7 lbs.).

75% of 19 to 35 month olds received full schedule of age appropriate immunizations against Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Polio, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Haemophilus Influenza, and Hepatitis B in 2017. The program continues to advocate and encourage parents on the importance of bringing their infants in for their scheduled immunization.