Highlights
of a new study from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)
U.S. Infant and
General Mortality: Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities
For Release July 9,
1995
An article in the July
issue of the American Journal of Public Health documents long-term trends
in infant mortality in the United States and makes projections through the
year 2010. The data are from NCHS and reveal some very positive as well as
negative trends.
The
provisional infant mortality rate for the U.S. in 1994 hit a record low of
7.9 infant deaths per 1,000 live births. If past trends continue, the
infant mortality rate for the U.S. as a whole will fall to 7.0 by the year
2000, which will meet the goal set by the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services.
Between 1950 and 1991
the national infant mortality rate declined rapidly, at an average rate of
more than 3 percent per year. This dramatic decline occurred primarily as
a result of declines in mortality from such leading infant killers as
pneumonia and influenza, respiratory distress syndrome, prematurity and
low birthweight, congenital anomalies, and accidents.
Because the infant
mortality rate in the past four decades has declined faster for white
infants than for black infants, the black white ratio in infant mortality
increased from 1.6 in 1950 to 2.2 in 1991. If past trends continue, the
infant mortality rate for black infants will fall well short of the year
2000 goal of 11.0 infant deaths per 1,000 live births. This racial
disparity in infant survival is likely to continue through the year 2010.
American Indian infants
had the highest risk of death from sudden infant death syndrome and birth
defects.
From 1964 to 1987 the
gap in infant survival between the most and least socially disadvantaged
groups increased significantly.
SOURCE:
"Infant Mortality in the United States: Trends, Differentials, and
Projections, 1950 through 2010," American Journal of Public
Health, July 1995, Vol. 85, No. 7; National Center for Health
Statistics, "Births, Marriages, Divorces, and Deaths for 1994," Monthly
Vital Statistics Report, Vol. 43, No. 12, June 13, 1995.
For more
information, please contact NCHS Office of Public Affairs (301) 458-4800,
via e-mail at paoquery@cdc.gov, or APHA press office (202) 789-5677.