Citation

Muhuri PK, MacDorman MF, Ezzati-Rice TM. Paediatr. Perinat. Epidemiol. 2004; 18(1): 51-60.

Affiliation

Office of Research and Methodology, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, MD, USA. pmuhuri@cdc.gov

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

14738547

Abstract

We used linked birth/infant death records of over 23 million singletons belonging to six birth cohorts (1989-91 and 1995-97) and examined changes in race differentials in the overall and cause-specific infant mortality risks across time in the United States. Results show that infant mortality declined for all races during the time period, with disproportionately greater declines among non-Hispanic American Indians (AIs). Among the leading causes of infant death, declines in mortality from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and congenital anomalies contributed the most to the overall decline in infant mortality in the 1995-97 cohorts, compared with the 1989-91 cohorts. Disproportionately greater reductions in mortality resulting from SIDS and congenital anomalies led to more rapid mortality declines among non-Hispanic AIs than for other races. There are disturbing findings that infants of almost every race experienced increases in mortality from newborn affected by maternal complications of pregnancy (maternal complications) and that none of the race groups experienced a significant decline in mortality from disorders resulting from short gestation/low birthweight.

Language: en