Infant mortality in Mississippi, 1996-2005: Trend and risk Analysis

Objective: To describe patterns, delineate contributing factors, and identify strategies for reducing Mississippi's infant mortality rate. Background: During the past ten years (1996 to 2005), the rate of Mississippi infants dying in the first year of life has fluctuated, ranging from 9.7 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2004 to 11.4 in 2005. The Healthy People 2010 goal is to reduce the U.S. infant mortality rate to 4.5 by the year 2010. Given Mississippi's 2005 rate of 11.4, an additional reduction of 6.9 deaths per 1,000 live births poses a tremendous challenge. Methods: Mississippi Vital Statistics was the principal data source. Additional data sources included the 2003 Mississippi Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System report and results from a study of Mississippi's 1996-2003 linked birth and death certificate files. Descriptive data analysis focuses on infant mortality rate changes between 1996 and 2005. Supplementary analysis utilized the Perinatal Periods of Risk approach. Conclusions: Of greatest significance, the analysis revealed that 61.3% of infant deaths between 1996 and 2005 occurred during the neonatal period and 38.7% occurred during the postneonatal period. From 1996 to 2005, 53% of infant deaths were among babies having very low birth weight (< 1,500 grams), 16% were LBW (< 2500 grams) and 31% occurred among babies with weight greater than 2,500 grams. Recommendations include increased utilization of family planning, pregnancy high risk management, and WIC programs along with increased access to health education, health services for women of childbearing age, and routine comprehensive health services for infants.