NCHS Data Briefs

NCHS Data Brief, No. 326 - Infant Mortality by Age at Death in the United States, 2016.

Infant mortality is an important public health measure in the United States and other countries (1–3). The United States’ infant mortality rate started to decline in 2007 (the most recent high), but has remained relatively unchanged in recent years (4,5). Previous research shows differences in infant mortality rates by age at death (i.e., neonatal, or deaths to infants aged 0–27 days, and postneonatal, or deaths to infants aged 28–364 days), age and race and Hispanic origin of the mother, and leading causes of death (4–6). This report examines infant mortality rates for the United States by age at death in 2016, by maternal age and race and Hispanic origin, and for the five leading causes of neonatal and postneonatal mortality.

The total infant mortality rate declined from 6.75 infant deaths per 1,000 births in 2007 to 6.07 in 2011, but did not change significantly from 2011 through 2016 (5.87).

In 2016, neonatal mortality rates were highest among infants of non-Hispanic black women (7.41). Postneonatal mortality rates were highest among infants of non-Hispanic black (3.81) and American Indian or Alaska Native (3.93) women.

In 2016, neonatal mortality rates were highest among infants of women under age 20 and 40 and over compared with infants of other maternal age groups. Postneonatal mortality rates were highest among infants of women under age 20.

Low birthweight accounted for the highest rate of neonatal mortality, whereas congenital malformations and sudden infant death syndrome accounted for the highest rates of postneonatal deaths.