Infant Mortality

The infant mortality rate is considered an important indicator of a population's health.⁶  The leading causes of death during the first 28 days of life are birth defects, premature delivery, low birth weight, and pregnancy complications.

Deaths after the first 28 days are related to events experienced in infancy including Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), birth defects, injuries and homicide. 

SIDS represents one-third and birth defects 17% of all deaths after the first 28 days.  

Infant Mortality Rates by Race/Ethnicity

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2000

Infant Mortality Facts

• African American infant mortality rates are more than twice that of White.
• American Indian/Alaskan Native infant mortality rates are 45% higher than that of Whites.
• Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander infant mortality rates are 31% greater than that of Whites.
• Asians have a lower infant mortality rate than Whites.
• Substantial ethnic/racial group disparities exist.
  • Some American Indian communities have infant mortality rates that approach twice the national average 
  • There are subgroups in the Hispanic community that have infant mortality rates higher than their overall group rate would indicate.
• The greatest racial and ethnic disparities are seen in the following causes of death in infants: disorders relating to preterm birth and unspecified low birth weight; respiratory distress syndrome; infections specific to the prenatal period; maternal complications of pregnancy; and sudden infant death syndrome
  • The rate of SIDS among African Americans, 1.6 deaths per 1,000 live births, is twice that of whites
  • Asians have the highest proportion of infant deaths from birth defects.^6,11