There was a fall in the total number of births from 89,000 in 1989 to approximately 54,000 in 1995. The crude birth rate dropped from 19.2 in 1970 to 17.0 in 1990 and 11.8 in 1995. The decline of infant mortality between 1990 and 1992, as well as the sharp rise in 1995 may be more apparent than real, according to the Ministry of Health, which believes that about half the districts submit incomplete or otherwise defective data. The most frequent causes of infant mortality in Georgia used to be respiratory illness and perinatal conditions. Respiratory conditions have since declined as a cause, in favour of other and less well defined causes, but this could be a statistical aberration.
Respiratory conditions continue to be the principal cause of child illness in the country.
The incidence of infant deaths from perinatal conditions, which are often indicative of the quality of antenatal and postnatal care, has remained about the same in absolute terms, but with the decline of infant mortality and of the portion due to respiratory infections, it has increased in relative importance. The maternal mortality rate for the period 1984-1995 was approximately 35 deaths per 100,000 live births, estimated to be more than four times higher than in Western countries. Both the age of the mother and her parity were associated with higher relative risk for maternal death. So far there has been no legislation or regulation governing health delivery and medical education systems. A general law on health is being prepared and should be presented to the Parliament of Georgia in September.