Neonatal Mortality

Neonatal Mortality in United States

United States

Infant mortality is a key indicator of population health and the effectiveness of the health care system in a country. Infant mortality is associated with many factors before, during and after birth, including maternal health, prenatal and postnatal care and access to quality health care. Deaths occurring between birth and 27 days (the neonatal period) account for two-thirds of all infant deaths. The leading causes of neonatal mortality are:

1. Congenital malformations.
2. Disorders related to short gestation and low birthweight.
3. Maternal complications of pregnancy.
4. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
5. Unintentional injuries.

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

• Babies born to non-Hispanic Black mothers compared with those born to non-Hispanic white mothers.
• Babies born to mothers with obesity compared with babies born to mothers who do not have obesity.
• Preterm births and births with intrapartum-related complications compared with babies born at full gestational age and those without intrapartum complications.

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

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

• Improving access to and use of prenatal care.
• Increasing home nurse visits to address many child care topics such as safe sleep, injury prevention and nutrition and breastfeeding, and offer pregnant mothers 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 during pregnancy. 
• Increasing state minimum wages, which has been shown to reduce rates of low birthweight and infant mortality.

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

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