Prenatal care and infant mortality among Canadian Indians.

In 1962, only some 30 percent of Indian mothers were making good use of available prenatal services. About the same number could be said to make fair use of services. The remaining 40 percent made little use of these services, many, none at all. It was among the latter group that the highest infant mortality was found. Failure to make use of available services would appear to be one major factor in maintaining the high Indian infant mortality rate. The evidence would also seem to indicate that, among Canadian Indians, prenatal services are decidedly effective in reducing infant mortality. The effect is in direct proportion to the extent and duration of utilization.