Maternal, Infant, and Child Health

Latest Data

Explore the latest data for the LHI topic Maternal, Infant, and Child Health.
Download the latest Maternal, Infant, and Child Health data in spreadsheet format [XLSX - 383 KB].

Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going

After decades of decline, the infant mortality rate has changed very little in recent years. In 2000, the infant mortality rate was 6.9 deaths per 1,000 live births, compared to a rate of 6.8 in 2007. From 1999 to 2007, the total percentage of live births that were delivered preterm (less than 37 completed weeks of gestation) increased by 7.6%, from 11.8% of live births to 12.7%. However, the rate declined 3.9% between 2007 and 2009, to 12.2%. Several groups experienced lower rates of infant deaths and preterm births compared to the total population. These groups include female infants, infants born to Asian or Pacific Islander women, and infants born to married women.

Leading Health Indicators

Explore the latest data and disparities for each indicator.
Infant Deaths (MICH-1.3)
Preterm births (MICH-9.1)

Infant Deaths (MICH-1.3)

• Healthy People 2020 objective MICH-1.3 tracks the rate of infant deaths per 1,000 live births that occur within the first year of life (infant mortality rate).
• HP2020 Baseline: In 2006, 6.7 infant deaths per 1,000 live births occurred within the first year of life.
• HP2020 Target: 6.0 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, a 10 percent improvement over the baseline.
• Over the past decade, the infant mortality rate decreased by 5.6% between 1997 and 2007, from 7.2 infant deaths per 1,000 live births to 6.8.
• Among racial/ethnic groups, infants of Asian or Pacific Islander mothers had the lowest mortality rate, 4.8 per 1,000 live births in 2007. The rate for infants of black or African American, non-Hispanic mothers was almost three times the infant mortality rate of the best group; and the rate for infants of American Indian or Alaska Native mothers was almost twice the best group rate.
• Females had a lower infant mortality rate than males (6.1 versus 7.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2007).
• Infants of married mothers experienced a lower mortality rate than infants of unmarried mothers (5.2 versus 9.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2007).
• Infants of mothers aged 30–34 years experienced the lowest infant mortality rate, 5.4 per 1,000 live births in 2007, among age groups. Rates experienced by infants of mothers in other age groups were:
• 14.6 infant deaths per 1,000 live births to mothers aged less than 15 years; almost three times the best group rate.
• 9.7 infant deaths per 1,000 live births to mothers aged 15–19 years; almost twice the rate experienced by the best group.
• 7.7 infant deaths per 1,000 live births to mothers aged 20–24 years.
• 6.0 infant deaths per 1,000 live births to mothers aged 25–29 years.
• 6.6 infant deaths per 1,000 live births to mothers aged 35 years and older.
• The infant mortality rate was 5.6% lower in 2007 (6.8) than in 1998 (7.2).
• The infant mortality rate was 1.5% higher in in 2007 (6.8) than in 2006 (6.7), however the difference was not statistically significant.

Endnotes:

• Unless otherwise stated, all comparisons described are statistically significant at the 0.05 level of significance.
• Data for this objective are available annually and come from the National Vital Statistics System-Mortality and Natality (NVSS-M and NVSS-N), CDC, NCHS.
• The terms "Hispanic or Latino" and "Hispanic" are used interchangeably in this report.

Preterm births (MICH-9.1)

• Healthy People 2020 objective MICH-9.1 tracks the percentage of infants born preterm (before 37 completed weeks of gestation).
• HP2020 Baseline: 12.7%, or approximately half a million, of live births were preterm in 2007.
• HP2020 Target: 11.4% of live births, a 10 percent improvement over the baseline.
• Between 1999 and 2007, the total preterm birth rate increased by 7.6%, from 11.8% of live births to 12.7%. However, the rate declined 3.9% between 2007 and 2009, to 12.2%.
• A smaller percentage of females were delivered preterm than males (11.7% versus 12.6% in 2009).

Total Preterm Births by Sex, 2009

NOTE: Less than 37 completed weeks of gestation.
SOURCE: National Vital Statistics System–Natality (NVSS–N), CDC, NCHS.

• Among racial and ethnic groups, the lowest percentage of preterm live births delivered in 2009 was experienced by Asian or Pacific Islander mothers (10.9).
• The proportion of preterm live births delivered to black or African American, non-Hispanic mothers was 17.5% in 2009, more than one and a half times the rate experienced by the best group. Rates for American Indian or Alaska Native, Hispanic, and white non-Hispanic mothers in 2009 were 13.5%, 12.0%, and 10.9%, respectively.
• The percentage of married mothers delivering preterm live births was lower than unmarried mothers (11.0% versus 13.9% in 2009).
• Mothers aged 25–29 years experienced the lowest percentage of preterm births, 11.2% in 2009, among age groups. Percentages experienced by mothers in other age groups were:
• 20.5% of the live births among mothers aged less than 15 years were preterm; almost twice the rate experienced by the best group.
• 13.6% of the live births among mothers aged 15–19 years were preterm.
• 12.1% of the live births among mothers 20–24 years were preterm.
• 11.6% of the live births among mothers aged 30–34 years were preterm.
• 14.3% of the live births among mothers aged 35 years and older were preterm.

Endnotes:

• Unless otherwise stated, all comparisons described are statistically significant at the 0.05 level of significance.
• Data for this objective are available annually and come from the National Vital Statistics System-Natality (NVSS-N), CDC, NCHS.
• The terms "Hispanic or Latino" and "Hispanic" are used interchangeably in this report.

Back to Top