Health Status > Infants

NEONATAL AND POSTNEONATAL MORTALITY

Neonatal. In 2003, 19,108 infants died before reaching 28 days of age, representing a neonatal mortality rate of 4.7 deaths per 1,000 live births. This rate is unchanged from the previous year. Neonatal mortality is generally related to short gestation and low birth weight, congenital malformations, and conditions occurring in the perinatal period.

Postneonatal. In 2003, 9,320 infants died between the ages of 28 days and 1 year, representing a postneonatal mortality rate of 2.3 deaths per 1,000 live births. This rate is unchanged from the previous year.

Postneonatal mortality is generally related to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), congenital malformations, and unintentional injuries.

> Bar Chart: Neonatal Mortality Rates, by Maternal Race/Ethnicity: 2003

> Bar Chart: Postneonatal Mortality Rates, by Maternal Race/Ethnicity: 2003

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Child Health USA 2005 is not copyrighted. Readers are free to duplicate and use all or part of the information contained on this page. Suggested Citation: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Child Health USA 2005. Rockville, Maryland: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2005.