U.S. Infant Mortality Rate: International Comparisons, Underlying Factors, and Federal Programs. April 4, 2012

摘要

The infant mortality rate (IMR)the number of deaths occurring in the first year of life per 1,000 live birthsis a widely used proxy for the health status of a nation, and is commonly used for international comparisons. As of 2008, the U.S. IMR was 6.6, a historically low rate of the United States, but a rate that is still higher than the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) average of 4.6. The relatively high U.S. rateand the number of infant deaths it indicatesconcerns some policymakers. In addition, there is concern that the U.S. IMR has leveled off after four decades of decline. Reducing the U.S. IMR has beenand continues to bea recognized public health objective. Researchers and policymakers debate the various factors that may explain the high U.S. IMR relative to other developed countries and its recent stagnation. Potential factors include international differences in the recording of live births, different rates of low birthweight and short gestational age births, and racial and ethnic disparities. Researchers conclude that international recording differences do not explain the relatively high U.S. IMR. In addition, the data suggest that racial disparities may only partially explain the relatively high U.S. IMR. Instead, researchers suggest that higher U.S. rates of low birthweight and short gestational age births may explain the relatively high U.S. IMR. This report examines the U.S. IMR. It identifies the top three causes of U.S. infant death congenital malformations, disorders related to low birthweight and short gestational age, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The report focuses on low birthweight and short gestational age, because the United States has relatively high and increasing rates of these births, and research has found that these births can be reduced through policy interventions.