What is the probable consequence of high infant mortality rates in a community?

High infant mortality rates in a community typically indicate significant issues within maternal and infant health services, which often reflect broader socioeconomic factors, healthcare access, and education levels regarding health practices. When infant mortality is high, it suggests that many infants are not surviving to their first year of life due to preventable conditions or inadequate healthcare access.

In this context, a need for improved maternal and infant health services arises as communities recognize the importance of addressing the underlying causes of these deaths. This could involve implementing better prenatal care, improving access to pediatric care, increasing health education for parents, and ensuring that mothers have access to the resources and support they need during and after their pregnancies.

As a result, addressing high infant mortality rates typically leads to efforts aimed at enhancing the overall health of mothers and infants, thus directly linking the two aspects. This can lead to community health initiatives, policies aimed at improving healthcare infrastructure, and increased public awareness campaigns focusing on maternal and infant health.