Which rate measures deaths of children less than one year of age per 1,000 live births and reflects the quality of health care?

• A. Life expectancy
• B. Longevity
• C. Infant mortality
• D. Globalization

Answer: (C)

Infant mortality rate measures deaths of children under one year of age per 1,000 live births. This rate serves as a key indicator of health system quality because whether an infant survives the first year depends heavily on access to good prenatal care, safe delivery, effective neonatal care, immunization, nutrition, and management of common childhood illnesses. A lower rate typically signals stronger maternal and child health services and overall population health. By contrast, life expectancy looks at how long people live on average across all ages, not the specific per-birth infant deaths; longevity is a general notion of lifespan, not a per-1,000-birth rate; and globalization doesn't measure health outcomes like infant mortality.