the estimates of the un interagency group for child mortality estimation show a per cent decline in infant mortality from to but the country s rates still remain rather high among the top in the european region congenital anomalies and pneumonia which could be partly attributed to environmental chemical hotspots and indoor air pollution from hazardous heating and cooking sources particularly in poor areas are among the main causes of mortality accounting for and per cent respectively of all deaths according to the estimates in albania was among the countries with the highest maternal mortality in the european region with poor sanitary conditions among other contributing factors thus considerable effort is needed if mdg which aims to reduce the maternal mortality rate by three quarters between and is to be attained