Infant Mortality measures the number of infant deaths that occur before age 1 per 1,000 live births. The ranks are based on a two-year average using the most recently available data from the National Center for Health Statistics.

 

Infant mortality is associated with many factors surrounding birth, including but not limited to: maternal health, prenatal care, and access to quality healthcare.[1] Congenital malformations are the leading cause of infant mortality followed closely by disorders related to preterm birth and low birthweight.[2] Infant mortality is commonly used to compare health between different countries because of its association with access to health care in the prenatal period and first year of life. The nation’s overall infant mortality rate is consistently higher than other developed countries, and significant racial and ethnic disparities exist.[3] The demographics of the mother are important predictors of infant mortality, with minority women and low socioeconomic status women having the highest rates. In addition to the demographic factors, there are also many health care system factors that influence infant mortality. Improving access to and utilization of ongoing prenatal care is a key strategy towards decreasing infant mortality, as well as reducing the teen birth rate and maternal smoking. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has put together a fact sheet on preventing infant mortality at www.hhs.gov/news/factsheet/infant.html.