Infant Mortality Facts
WHAT IS INFANT MORTALITY?
Infant mortality is defined as the death of a baby before his or her first birthday.
WHY DOES INFANT MORTALITY MATTER?
- It is an indicator for a community’s overall health status
- It is a huge emotional cost to families
- It is costly to communities
- Preterm/low birth-weight babies can cost up to $1,000,000
- Healthy Full term babies cost $1,100
WHAT ARE THE LEADING CAUSES OF INFANT DEATH?
- Congenital malformations / 20%
- Premature birth and low birth weight / 17%
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) / 8%
- Maternal complications during pregnancy / 6%
- Accidents and unintentional injuries / 4%
WHAT ARE THE FACTORS INFLUENCING BIRTH OUTCOMES?
- Medical
- Lifestyle Choices
- Maternal Health
- Alcohol and Drug/Substance Use
- Birth Defects
- Poor Nutrition
- Disease (STD)
- Irregular Prenatal Care
- Infections
- Closely spaced pregnancies
- Psychological Stressors
- Poverty
- Racial Issues
- Domestic Violence