Infant mortality rate highest in the north
The highest baby death rate in the Netherlands is in Friesland and Groningen, where 11 babies per 1,000 die, according to researchers at Amsterdam and Groningen teaching hospitals,the Telegraaf reports on Wednesday .
Limburg and Noord-Brabant have the lowest rate at 9.2 out of 1,000.
The researchers said there is a clear link between the infant mortality rate and the distance mothers must travel to hospital if something goes wrong with a home birth.
Although around 40% of Dutch women plan to give birth at home, only around 22% actually do so.
Health minister Edith Schippers has already announced plans to establish 24/7 maternity clinics at Dutch hospitals, so that every woman is no more than 15 minutes from specialist help.
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