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Causes of Infant Mortality
Facts About Infant Mortality
Causes of infant mortality are:
Check your member handbook or benefit booklet for programs and benefits available to you.
Social and Economic Factors
Systemic racism is a form of racism embedded in laws, policies, practices and beliefs that unfairly treat or oppress people of color. Black individuals with preterm birth are more likely to have reported experiencing racial discrimination.
Discrimination in health care settings can include providers dismissing your symptoms or concerns, offering different treatment based on your type of insurance, or not providing care in your preferred language. In a 2018 study, a quarter of American Indian individuals reported they have experienced discrimination when visiting a doctor.
Education influences your access to information and resources. Birthing individuals who do not get a high school education are at more than double the risk of infant mortality.
Income is the largest predictor of differences in health outcomes. It affects your ability to pay your bills on time, provide enough healthy food for you and your family, and afford health care visits. High-income Black households have similar rates of unemployment, poverty and educational attainment as low-income White households6.
Infant mortality is the death of infants under one year of age. When it comes to infant mortality, there are major disparities in health care access, quality, and social and economic conditions within different communities or groups. Infant mortality remains a serious concern despite the progress we’ve seen in health care and technology.
Infant Mortality
Facts on Health Care Disparities
Infant Mortality and Health Disparities
The infant mortality rate is the number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births. Knowing the infant mortality rate is important because it is a measure of the overall health of a population.
Infant Mortality
Healthy Pregnancy Support for Members
Resources and Support
Learn more about Health Equity
Additional Resources
Benefits.gov
This site run by the United States Government helps you find benefits from health care assistance, like Medicaid, to food and nutrition assistance.
Website: Benefits.gov
Birthing Doulas
A birthing doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support during pregnancy. Doula providers also connect families with community resources to help them overcome challenges in their lives that could impact their health. Use the Doctor & Hospital Finder to find an in-network doula near you.
Racial and ethnic:
Rates of infant mortality (number of deaths per 1,000 live births) in the United States in 2022:
Black: 10.9
Hispanic/Latino: 4.9
White: 4.5
Black infants:
Have more than double the infant mortality rate as White infants
Are almost four times as likely to die from complications related to low birth weight compared to White infants
Had 2.9 times the SIDS mortality rate as White infants (in 2020)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/maternal-infant-health/infant-mortality CDC: cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/vsrr033.pdf
CDC: cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/vsrr033.pdf
March of Dimes: marchofdimes.org/peristats/reports/new-jersey/report-card
CDC: cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/vsrr033.pdf
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: minorityhealth.hhs.gov/infant-mortality-and-african-americans
National Library of Medicine: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8870826/
National Institutes of Health: nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/infant-mortality
Sources:
Infant Mortality and Health Disparities
Infant Mortality
Facts About Infant Mortality
Resources and Support
Healthy Pregnancy Support for Members
Additional Resources
Birth defects are still the leading cause of infant mortality. There are different types of birth defects, which can happen in any pregnancy but these can increase the risk:
Not enough folic acid to prevent neural tube defects
Drinking alcohol
Smoking cigarettes
Using drugs
Certain medicine that is not safe in pregnancy
Infections
Obesity or uncontrolled diabetes
Exposure to chemicals or radiation
Screen your newborn for hidden conditions: Newborn screening can find certain health conditions in your baby that might not be noticeable at birth. Your health care provider will apply a few drops of blood from your baby’s heel onto a special paper for analysis. Most states screen for at least 29 conditions, but some will test for 50 or more. You can also request additional screening through your health care provider. It’s important to find a pediatrician for your baby and follow the recommended well visit schedule.
Infant mortality rates (number of deaths per 1,000 live births) in the United States in 2022:
Infant mortality rate: 5.6
Overall mortality rate for infants younger than 28 days old: 3.58
Mortality rate for infants older than 28 days: 2.02
Infant mortality rates (number of deaths per 1,000 live births) in New Jersey in 2022:
Infant mortality rate: 3.57
Black infant mortality rate: 8.7
Hispanic infant mortality rate: 4.0
Asian American infant mortality: 2.5
Although the overall infant mortality rate in the United States has declined, there is a significant disparity in infant mortality rates among certain racial and ethnic groups. Social determinants of health—the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes—are a major cause of health disparities, including infant mortality. Some of the social determinants of health that have a negative influence on infant mortality include social and economic status, geography and environment.
Geographic and Environmental Factors
Access to health care - determined by whether or not the person receives good individual health care before pregnancy and fetal care during pregnancy. This reduces the risk of negative health outcomes for the baby, including infant mortality. In 2019, nearly 11% of the Black population and 20% of the Hispanic population in the United States were uninsured.
Neighborhood – determined by whether or not an individual lives near safe and well-lit spaces for walking or exercise. It also determines whether there is access to public transportation, high-quality health care services and providers in the community, and clean water. Predominantly Black neighborhoods have higher allergen counts and pollution levels than in the overall population.
A person’s house – determined by whether or not there is a safe place to live, free of lead, mold or other harmful chemicals. A home should have enough room for the people who live there and in good condition.
Pediatricians
Pediatricians are medical doctors who primarily treat children. It’s important to find a pediatrician for your baby and follow the recommended well visit schedule and the recommended immunization schedule. Use the Doctor & Hospital Finder to find an in-network pediatrician near you.
Horizon Behavioral Health
Your health and wellbeing has a major impact on your baby’s wellness in their first year of life. If you think you have postpartum depression, a mood disorder or Substance Use Disorder, Horizon Behavioral Health can help connect you with care, including:
Doctors, therapists and facilities that can give you the help you need
Individual and group counseling
Crisis intervention and mental health treatment
Autism care management services
Online wellness and self-directed therapy tools
Virtual doctor and therapy visits
Treatment programs for Substance Use Disorder
Call 1-800-626-2212, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Parent Information
The CDC provides information for parents of infants.
Website: Parent Information
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Safe to Sleep
The NIH’s site helps to educate parents, caregivers and childcare providers about ways to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related infant deaths.
Website: NIH Safe to Sleep
Infant Care and Infant Health Resources
Connect with groups that provide information about infant care and health.
Website: Infant Care and Infant Health Resources
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Library of Medicine MedlinePlus
A resource for infant and newborn care.
Website: Infant and Newborn Care: MedlinePlus
New Jersey Department of Health—Maternal and Child Health
New Jersey’s Department of Health provides health education, information and resources throughout the state for pregnant people and new parents.
Website: NJ Health Maternal and Child Health
New Jersey State Health Assessment Data (NJSHAD)
New Jersey’s public health data resource that provides data on births, infants and maternal health in the state.
Website: NJSHAD
State of New Jersey Parent Link
New Jersey’s resource center for parents.
Website: NJ Parent Link|Infant/Child Health & Safety
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—Office on Women’s Health (OWH)
OWH provides information about pregnancy, childbirth and beyond.
Website: OWH Pregnancy
Women Infant Children (WIC)
WIC provides supplements for food, health care referrals and nutrition information for pregnant and postpartum women and children up to age 5.
Website: WIC
Preterm birth (a birth before 37 weeks) and low birth weight can be caused by inadequate prenatal care. Infants born preterm, especially before 32 weeks, have higher rates of death and disability. Pregnant people who have had a preterm birth with a previous pregnancy have a higher risk for preterm birth. They should talk to their doctor about their risk and make sure they get adequate prenatal care.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the unexplained death of an infant younger than 1 years old. Risk factors for SIDS include:
An infant with genetic differences in the brain that controls breathing and waking
A change in how well the baby’s body controls or regulates itself during the first six months after birth
External stressors like being placed on their stomach to sleep, overheating during sleep and exposure to cigarette smoke
Other known risk factors for SIDS include preterm birth, smoking during pregnancy and race/ethnic origin. Black and American Indian/Alaska Native infants have a higher risk for SIDS than White, Hispanic or Asian American infants.
Pregnancy complications include the mother’s health, the fetus’ health, or both. Getting adequate prenatal care can decrease the risk of complications because it allows health care providers to identify and manage conditions when they are easier to treat. Some common pregnancy complications include:
High blood pressure
Gestational diabetes (diabetes that occurs during pregnancy)
Infections, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
Preeclampsia
Preterm labor
Mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety
Pregnancy loss/miscarriage
Stillbirth
Hyperemesis gravidarum (severe nausea)
Iron-deficiency anemia
Access to care:
Black birthing individuals were twice as likely to receive late or no prenatal care compared to White birthing individuals.
Maternal health:
Birthing individuals in communities that are majority Black are twice as likely to have risk factors, like hypertension or anemia, compared to communities that are primarily White.
Birthing individuals in communities that are majority Hispanic are one third more likely to have risk factors, like prior cesarean birth or pre-existing diabetes, than communities that are primarily White.
Facts on Health Care Disparities
Along with the efforts taken across our state by the Governor’s office, Horizon is extremely committed to making sure that our focus on maternal health and infant mortality has an impact in helping to reduce the infant mortality rate.
Infant mortality refers only to the death of an infant after they are born. Death that happens before birth is usually classified as pregnancy loss (miscarriage) or stillbirth. Miscarriage is the loss of a fetus earlier in pregnancy, while a stillbirth is the death of a fetus at or after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
The following factors affect everyone’s health and are major contributors to infant mortality:
Access to medicine
Trained health care providers
Clean water
Food
Causes of Infant Mortality
Get pre-pregnancy and prenatal care: Don’t wait until you are pregnant to improve your health. Make sure you are at a healthy weight, have proper nutrition, manage any chronic health conditions, and get help for Substance Use Disorders.
Create a safe sleeping environment: Always place your baby on their back to sleep, and keep their sleep area free of soft objects, toys, crib bumpers and loose bedding.
Injuries and Accidents, like suffocation, motor vehicle accidents and poisonings.
In the United States, the most common causes of infant mortality in the first weeks after birth are different from those that happen later in the first year. Additionally, there is a difference between causes of infant mortality and contributors to infant mortality. A cause leads directly to a death, while a contributor is a risk factor that makes death more likely.
You may not be able to prevent the leading causes of infant mortality, but you can always reduce your baby’s risk.
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