Infant Mortality
Goal:
Measure
The measure in this category is the percentage of deaths among infants
aged 0-1 per 1,000 live births.
Why This Indicator is Important
The US has one of the highest infant mortality rates
in the industrialized world. The primary causes of infant mortality are birth
defects, disorders related to short gestation/low birth weight, Sudden Infant
Death Syndrome (SIDS), and issues related to pregnancy and birth, including
substance abuse. Adequate prenatal and well-child prevention care visits offer
opportunities to identify risk factors for infant mortality. The US average of
infant deaths per 1000 live births has remained at 6.8 (5.7 for whites &
13.5 for African Americans). In 2010, the leading causes of
infant deaths in the US (According to the CDC) were:
- Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities
- Disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight
- Sudden infant death syndrome
How Are We Doing?
Midland County’s infant mortality
rate has been remained steady since 2007 at 4.4 per 1,000 live births, with a 2 per 1,000 increase in the 2011-2013 period. Issues are varied, but making conclusions based on three year moving averages with such a small population is problematic. Since 2007 Midland County’s infant mortality
rate has been below Michigan’s. In the 2010-2012 period it was 60% below the state average with 4.2 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in Midland
County, and currently it is .2 per 1,000 below for the latest period (2011-2013).
Teen pregnancy and birth rates remain a priority concern for Midland County, data on teen pregnancy can be found under Teen Pregnancy in the Intellectual and Social Development section.
Teen pregnancy and birth rates remain a priority concern for Midland County, data on teen pregnancy can be found under Teen Pregnancy in the Intellectual and Social Development section.
Qualitative Indicators for Impact
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