Neonatal Mortality

Neonatal Mortality in United States

United States

Infant mortality is a key indicator of a country’s population health and the effectiveness of its health care system. Deaths occurring between birth and 27 days (the neonatal period) account for nearly two-thirds of all infant deaths. Maternal health, prenatal and postnatal care and access to quality health care before, during and after birth influence the likelihood of infant death. The leading causes of neonatal mortality are:

• Premature birth.
• Low birth weight. 
• Birth defects. 
• Pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia or problems with the placenta or umbilical cord.
• Infections.
• Asphyxia, or not getting enough oxygen before or during birth.

Significant sociodemographic disparities persist in infant mortality, predominantly by race. The prevalence of infant mortality is higher among:

• Babies born to non-Hispanic Black women compared with those born to non-Hispanic white women.
• Babies born to women with obesity.
• Babies born preterm or with intrapartum-related complications compared with babies born at full gestational age and those without intrapartum complications.

Babies born to women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to be born prematurely, with low birth weight and with birth defects, all of which are risk factors for neonatal mortality.

Key prenatal and postnatal strategies for reducing the risk of neonatal and infant mortality include:

• Improving access to and use of prenatal care.
• Increasing access to and use of home visits to address child care topics such as safe sleep, injury prevention and nutrition and breastfeeding, and offer pregnant women and new parents health services and support.
• Participating in newborn screening programs, which can detect conditions not readily apparent to parents or health care professionals. 
• Making healthy choices during pregnancy, such as maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding smoking, alcohol consumption, marijuana and other drugs.
• Increasing state minimum wages, which has been shown to be associated with reduced rates of low birth weight and infant mortality.

Reducing the infant mortality rate is a Healthy People 2030 objective.

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Singh, Gopal K., and Stella M. Yu. “Infant Mortality in the United States, 1915-2017: Large Social Inequalities Have Persisted for Over a Century.” International Journal of MCH and AIDS (IJMA) 8, no. 1 (March 20, 2019): 19–31. https://doi.org/10.21106/ijma.271.