Between 1981-85 a survey (EMIS) was completed in Bamako, Mali on factors leading to infant and child mortality. The process began with a sample of all newborns born in maternity hospitals, followed by registering all deliveries in the 9 maternity hospitals in Bamako for 3-5 days. This is the 1st survey that utilized midwives to collect the basic data, and to register all newborns in the maternity hospitals. The interviewers made follow-up visits to the homes of mothers at 7 different intervals lasting between 1-4 months. During this process 34.5% of registered mothers were lost to follow-up between their initial entry to the maternity hospitals and the 1st follow-up home visit. The majority of newborns were registered at the Gabriel Toure hospital in Bamako, the largest and best equipped hospital in the country. 95% of all deliveries were normal, resulting in 99% of newborns in good health. Direct methods of estimating infant mortality rates (IMR) for newborns born in Bamako of mothers who are residents gives a rate of 80.5/1000; indirect methods estimating resident and non-resident mothers in Bamako gives IMR of over 100/1000 for Bamako. Diarrhea is the principal cause of death (34.3% of males and 36.4% of females). Fever follows, killing more male infants; respiratory diseases affected 11.6% of males and 11.9% of females. Analyzing the different causes of infant deaths from the demographic, biological, socioeconomic, cultural and health perspectives has helped to categorize a number of high-risk groups in Malian society. 25% of infants born to women 45-49 are born dead in comparison to 12.8% of infants born to mothers 20. Families with 4 children and older mothers, are more exposed to the risks of infant mortality. Infants weighing 2000 grams have a higher risk of dying than those weighing 3000 grams. Infants of married mothers are less at risk than the unmarried.