CDC Reports Study:
Decline in Infant Mortality Rate in 1999
A new report from the National
Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control Prevention,
shows that the 1999 infant mortality rate of 7.0 infant deaths per 1,000
live births was 3 percent lower than the 1998 rate and down 21 percent
from the rate of 8.9 at the beginning of the decade.
The report documents wide variation in the
infant mortality rate by the race of mother with the highest rate, 14.0 for
infants of black mothers, more than four times higher than the groups with the
lowest rates, 2.9 for infants born to Chinese mothers and 3.4 for Japanese
mothers. Infants of Cuban, Central and South American, Mexican, non-Hispanic
white, and Filipino mothers had low rates, while rates were higher for infants
of Puerto Rican, Hawaiian, and American Indian mothers.
Infant mortality rates also varied greatly
by State. Rates are generally higher for States in the south and lowest for
States in the West and Northeast. Infant mortality rates among States ranged
from 10.3 for Mississippi to 4.8 for New Hampshire.
The report, "Infant Mortality
Statistics from the 1999 Period Linked Birth/Infant Death Data Set,"
presents detailed data on infant mortality rates by race and ethnicity, leading
causes of death, infant characteristics such as birth weight, and maternal
factors such as receipt of prenatal care. These data are shown for the Nation
and 3-year average infant mortality rates for each State.
Other highlights of the report:
Almost
28,000 infants died in the first year of life in 1999. The three leading causes
of infant death-–congenital malformations, low birth weight, and sudden infant
death syndrome--together accounted for almost one-half of all infant deaths in
1999.
Infant
mortality rates were higher for mothers who began prenatal care late or had none
at all, were teenagers, had 9-11 years of education, were unmarried, or smoked
during pregnancy.
Infant
mortality rates were also higher for male infants, multiple births, and infants
born preterm or at low birthweight.
The infant mortality report by T. J. Mathews,
Marian F. MacDorman, and Fay Menacker is based on information from the
death certificate linked to the corresponding birth certificate for each
infant under 1 year of age who died in 1999. The purpose of the linkage
is to conduct more detailed analyses of infant mortality patterns and
provide better information for prevention, research, and medical care.
The data are based on birth and death records filed and linked by State
vital statistics offices and reported to NCHS through the National Vital
Statistics System. For more information on the system or to view and download
a copy of the report check the NCHS
Web site.
