Which of the following describes infant mortality?

Infant mortality specifically refers to the number of babies who die within the first year of their lives. This measure is crucial in public health as it helps assess the overall health of a population, the effectiveness of healthcare systems, and the socioeconomic conditions affecting families. Tracking infant mortality rates can provide insights into maternal health, access to healthcare, and the prevalence of diseases or unsafe living conditions in a community.

The other choices describe different aspects of mortality but do not accurately define infant mortality. For instance, the first option pertains to deaths among children aged 1-5 years, while another option refers to the total death rate for infants under 2 years old, which includes some elements that go beyond the defined first year. The last choice discusses the annual death rate across all age groups, which does not focus particularly on infants. Hence, the correct understanding of infant mortality is best encapsulated by the second choice, emphasizing deaths that happen specifically within the first year of life.