Final answer:
The high infant mortality rate in Africa is mainly due to poverty-related issues, which lead to malnutrition, lack of quality healthcare, and unsanitary conditions, along with preventable diseases claiming lives in the absence of adequate medical intervention.
Step-by-step explanation:
Infant mortality rates are highest in Africa primarily due to poverty and its associated challenges, which often include malnutrition, inadequate health care, and poor sanitation. Complications such as pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria, which can typically be prevented or treated in developed regions, become deadly in settings where healthcare resources are scarce. Studies also indicate that societal factors such as political climate and ethnicity contribute to these disparities, highlighting the complex interplay between socioeconomic status and health outcomes. Other factors include diseases and limited availability of clean water. These issues contribute to poor survival rates for infants and are indicators of the overall health of a population.