Objective: We assessed the association among gestational age (GA) at birth, timing of death, and risk status of the pregnancy and racial/ethnic disparities in infant mortality rate in the United States.

Study Design: We utilized U.S. 2000 to 2004 birth cohort-linked birth and infant death data restricted to nonanomalous singleton live births. Multivariable log-binomial regression models were fit to evaluate racial/ethnic disparities in infant mortality while adjusting for potential confounders.

Results: Compared with whites, blacks had a higher adjusted infant mortality rate (IMR) (risk ratio [RR] 1.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.91, 2.01), and Hispanics had a lower adjusted IMR (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.76, 0.82). When categorized by GA, at 24 to 31 weeks, the adjusted early neonatal mortality (ENM) is significantly lower for black than whites, similar at 32 to 36 weeks, and at 37 weeks or more, blacks have significantly higher ENM.

Conclusions: The racial/ethnic disparities in infant mortality in the United States persist and vary across GA. These disparities may largely be driven by the excess post-neonatal deaths among blacks.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-0032-1326992DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

infant mortality
20
disparities infant
16
racial/ethnic disparities
12
mortality united
8
united states
8
gestational age
8
mortality rate
8
blacks higher
8
infant
6
mortality
6

Similar Publications

Background And Aims: Despite a well-funded healthcare system with universal insurance coverage, Switzerland has one of the highest neonatal and infant mortality rates among high-income countries. Identifying avoidable risk factors targeted by evidence-based policies is a public health priority. We describe neonatal and infant mortality in Switzerland from 2011 to 2018 and explore associations with neonatal- and pregnancy-related variables, parental sociodemographic information, regional factors and socioeconomic position (SEP) using data from a long-term nationwide cohort study.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Malaria and anemia are significant public health concerns that contribute to child mortality in African. Despite global efforts to control the two diseases, their prevalence in high-risk regions like Nigeria remains high. Understanding socioeconomic, demographic, and geographical factors associated with malaria and anemia, is critical for effective intervention strategies.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Identification of interacting vulnerabilities is essential to reduce maternal and perinatal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). High parity (≥ 5 previous births) is an underemphasized biological vulnerability linked to poverty and affecting a sizeable proportion of SSA births. Despite increased risk, high parity women rarely use hospitals for childbirth.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

After neonatal care, what next? A qualitative study of mothers' post-discharge experiences after premature birth in Kenya.

Int J Equity Health

January 2025

Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK.

Background: Approximately 15 million babies are born prematurely every year worldwide. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Asia account for more than half of the global preterm deliveries. Prominent healthcare structural and socio-economic factors in SSA, for example poverty and weak health systems, amplify vulnerabilities for mothers and premature babies; often leading to poor outcomes.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The emerging COVID-19 pandemic impacted excess mortality in adults. However, limited information is available about the number of children who died during and after the discontinuation of COVID-19 policies in Thailand. This study aimed to assess the excess mortality in Thai children during and after the discontinuation of COVID-19 policies in Thailand.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!