Infant morbidity and mortality.

The steady decline in the infant mortality rate among Jews showed a temporary, distressing reversal during the years immediately following the establishment of the State of Israel, but thereafter the rate again declined and the reduction was maintained. The rate fell to 13.9/1,000 live births in 1977. During recent years, there has been a significant parallel fall in the number of deaths during the first six days of life, reaching 8.0/1,000 live births in 1977. Hospital admissions, as an indicator of morbidity, now show less children with infantile diarrhea, formerly a major cause of hospitalization. Although Israel has reached reasonably satisfactory standards of infant health, there remains much room for improvement.