Albania has the highest rate of infants' mortality in the Balkan region, said a report issued by Albania Institute of Public Health, Albanian daily news report on Tuesday.

Infant mortality deaths per 1,000 live births in Albania has sharply decreased in the past decade in both sexes. Although the neonatal mortality rate has decreased along with infant mortality rate, its weight within the infant mortality rate has increased over the years from 48 percent in 1990 to 54 percent in 2013, according to the report.

Compared with the other countries in the region, under-five mortality rate in Albania (sex-pooled: about 15 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2013) is currently the highest.

"Timely and credible data are crucial for identifying the children in greatest need and developing policies targeted to improve their lives," UNICEF representative Antonella Scolamiero said during the presentation of the report.

Meanwhile, the report said "As a matter of fact, the estimates prepared by WHO, UNICEF and the World Bank (WB) on infant mortality for Albania in the past two years are almost double of the figures reported by the Albanian institutions."

"A possible explanation for this apparent data discrepancy between UNICEF and other UN agencies and the Albanian institutions may be related to the underestimation of infant mortality by the Albanian institutions due to the under-registration of deaths," said the report.

The institute launched the first comprehensive report of the health of the Albanian population. The report was drafted by the institute in cooperation with UNICEF. Endit

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