From the nurse's perspective, what measure should be the focus of the health care system to reduce the rate of infant mortality further?

A. Extending postpartum hospital stays offers limited benefit in reducing infant mortality, as most neonatal deaths are related to conditions arising before or during birth rather than after discharge. The focus should instead be on prevention through early prenatal care. B. While obstetricians provide specialized care, many healthy pregnancies can be safely managed by nurse-midwives or family physicians. Access to care, not provider type, has a greater influence on reducing infant mortality rates. C. Although NICUs are vital for high-risk or premature infants, they address complications after they occur rather than preventing them. Preventive strategies in prenatal care are more effective in reducing overall infant mortality. D. Early and consistent prenatal care promotes maternal health, early detection of complications, and improved fetal outcomes. Such programs help prevent preterm birth, low birth weight, and other major contributors to infant mortality.