Infant Mortality Rate Dips In 2012
California's infant mortality rate dropped to a new low in 2012 but troubling disparities among race still persist.
According to data provided by the California Department of Public Health, California's overall infant mortality rate is 4.5 deaths per 1,000 live births. That compares to 4.8 deaths per 1,000 live births reported in 2011. The mortality rate is based on deaths that occur up to a year after a birth.
In 2012, there were 503,788 births in California. Of those, 2,247 infants died. The leading cause of infant death in 2012 was congenital malformations, a gestation period shorter than the ideal 39 weeks, and low birth weight.
California's numbers are better than those for the U.S. as a whole. The nationwide infant mortality rate is just over six deaths per 1,000 live births in 2012 – a number that U.S. health officials project will drop to 5.9 deaths per 1,000 births in 2013.
However, there remains a significant disparity in infant mortality rates among African Americans. The infant mortality rate among African Americans is 9.8 per 1,000 live births. Although that's down significantly from 10.5 in 2011, it is still more than double the state's overall rate.
According to U.S. data, African American mothers were far more likely not to receive prenatal care than whites.
The leading causes of infant mortality among African American newborns are low birth weight and sudden infant death syndrome.
The mortality among Latino newborns is 4.7 per 1,000 live births, compared to 4.9 in 2012.
"Optimal infant health outcomes are influenced by a woman’s health even before she becomes pregnant, including avoidance of tobacco, alcohol and drugs, maintaining a healthy weight, and taking folic acid supplements,” said Ron Chapman, M.D., director of the CDPH. “Early entry into prenatal care, genetic testing to identify health risks at birth, breastfeeding, childhood immunizations, and continuing proper nutrition through a baby’s developing years all contribute to improving infant health outcomes.”
