0
March 1992, Vol 146, No. 3 >
Article | March 1992

Race- and Rank-Specific Infant Mortality in a US Military Population FREE

James S. Rawlings, MD; Michael R. Weir, MD
[+] Author Affiliations

Accepted for publication October 8, 1991.

The opinions and assertions contained herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Defense or the Department of the Army.

Reprint requests to Department of Pediatrics, Madigan Army Medical Center, Box 845, Tacoma, WA 98431-5000 (Dr Rawlings).


Am J Dis Child. 1992;146(3):313-316. doi:10.1001/archpedi.1992.02160150053020.
Text Size: A A A
Published online
Article
References
Comments

• Mortality among black infants in the United States is approximately twice that among white infants. The disparity has been attributed in large part to the higher incidence of poverty and limited access to health care among black Americans. We investigated race- and rank-specific infant mortality rates among dependents of military officers and soldiers at Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Wash, between 1985 and 1990. The overall infant mortality rate was 9.3 deaths per 1000 live births compared with 10.1 deaths per 1000 live births in the United States in 1987. Mortality rates for infants born to families of junior enlisted soldiers were similar to those for infants born to families of noncommissioned and commissioned officers. The mortality rate among black infants was 11.1 deaths per 1000 live births compared with 17.9 deaths per 1000 live births among all black Americans in 1987. These lower rates of mortality among black infants may be due to guaranteed access to health care and higher levels of family education and income in the multiracial subpopulation served by our medical center compared with the nation as a whole.

(AJDC. 1992;146:313-316)

REFERENCES

1 +
Wegman ME.  Annual summary of vital statistics—1988 . Pediatrics . 1989;;84:943-965.
2 +
Allen DM, Buehler JW, Hogue CJR, Strauss LT, Smith JC.  Regional differences in birth-weight specific infant mortality, United States, 1980 . Public Health Rep . 1987;;102:138-145.
3 +
International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision . 2nd ed. Washington, DC: (September) 1980;. US Department of Health and Human Services Publication PHS 80-1260.
4 +
Spurlock CW, Hinds MW, Skaggs JW, Hernandez CE.  Infant death rates among the poor and nonpoor in Kentucky, 1982 to 1983 . Pediatrics . 1987;;80:262-269.
5 +
Wise PH, Kotelchuck M, Wilson ML, Mills M.  Racial and socioeconomic disparities in childhood mortality in Boston . N Engl J Med . 1985;;313:360-366.
6 +
McCormick MC, Shapiro S, Starfield B.  High-risk young mothers . Am J Public Health . 1984;;74:18-23.
7 +
Paneth N, Wallenstein S, Kiely JL, Susser M.  Social class indicators and mortality in low birth weight infants . Am J Epidemiol . 1982;;116:364-375.
8 +
Hein HA, Lathrop SS.  The changing pattern of neonatal mortality in a regionalized system of perinatal care . AJDC . 1986;;140:989-993.
9 +
Paneth N, Kiely JL, Wallenstein S, Marcus M, Pakter J, Susser M.  Newborn intensive care and neonatal mortality in low-birth-weight infants . N Engl J Med . 1982;;307:149-155.
10 +
Knobloch H, Malone A, Ellison PH, Stevens F, Zdeb M.  Considerations in evaluating changes in outcome for infants weighing less than 1,501 grams . Pediatrics . 1982;;69:285-295.
11 +
McCormick MC, Shapiro S, Starfield BH.  The regionalization of perinatal services . JAMA . 1985;;253:799-804.
12 +
McCormick NC.  The contribution of low birth weight to infant mortality and childhood morbidity . N Engl J Med . 1985;;312:82-90.
13 +
Lee K, Paneth N, Gartner LM, Pearlman M.  The very low-birth-weight rate . J Pediatr . 1980;;97:759-764.
14 +
Lee K, Tseng PI, Eidelman Al, Kandall SR, Gartner LM.  Determinants of neonatal mortality . AJDC . 1976;;130:842-845.
15 +
Wallace HM, Goldstein H.  The status of infant mortality in Sweden and the United States . J Pediatr . 1975;;87:995-1000.
16 +
Erikson JD, Bjerkedal T.  Fetal and infant mortality in Norway and the United States . JAMA . 1982;;247:987-991.
17 +
Guyer B, Wallach LA, Rosen SL.  Birth-weight standardized neonatal mortality rates and the prevention of low birth weight . N Engl J Med . 1982;;306:1230-1233.
18 +
Murray JL, Bernfield M.  The differential effect of prenatal care on the incidence of low birth weight among blacks and whites in a prepaid health care plan . N Engl J Med . 1988;;319:1385-1391.
19 +
Rahbar F, Momeni J, Fomufod A, Westney L.  Prenatal care and perinatal mortality in a black population . Obstet Gynecol . 1985;;65:327-329.
20 +
Rawlings JS, Smith FR, Spencer RA.  Routine prenatal care reduces the incidence of preterm delivery and neonatal demise . J Perinatol . 1985;;4:22-25.
21 +
Davis JE.  National initiatives for care of the medically needy . JAMA . 1988;;259:3171-3173.
22 +
Braveman P, Oliver G, Miller MG.  Adverse outcomes and lack of health insurance among newborns in an eight-county area of California, 1982 to 1986 . N Engl J Med . 1989;;321:508-513.
23 +
Leiberman E, Ryan KJ, Monson RR, Schoenbaum SC.  Risk factors accounting for racial differences in the rate of premature birth . N Engl J Med . 1987;;317:743-748.
24 +
Kleinman JC, Kessel SS.  Racial differences in low birth weight: trends and risk factors . N Engl J Med . 1987;;317:749-753.
25 +
Behrman RE.  Premature births among black women . N Engl J Med . 1987;;317:763-765.
26 +
Centers for Disease Control.  Infant mortality among black Americans . MMWR . 1987;;36:1-10.
27 +
Binkin NJ, Williams RL, Hogue CJR, Chen PM.  Reducing black neonatal mortality . JAMA . 1985;;253:372-375.
28 +
Buehler JW, Kleinman JC, Hogue CJR, Strauss LT, Smith JC.  Birth weight-specific infant mortality, United States, 1960 and 1980 . Public Health Rep . 1987;;102:151-161.
29 +
Gould JB, LeRoy S.  Socioeconomic status and low birth weight: a racial comparison . Pediatrics . 1988;;82:896-904.
30 +
Druschel CM, Hale CB.  Postneonatal mortality among normal birth weight infants in Alabama, 1980 to 1983 . Pediatrics . 1987;;80:869-872.
31 +
Jason JM, Jarvis WR.  Infectious diseases: preventable causes of infant mortality . Pediatrics . 1987;;80:335-341.
32 +
Centers for Disease Control.  National birthweight-specific infant mortality surveillance: preliminary analysis—United States, 1980 . MMWR . 1986;;35:269-273.
33 +
Mayer W, Clinton JJ, Newhall D.  A first report of the Department of Defense External Civilian Peer Review of Medical Care . JAMA . 1988;;260:2690-2693.
34 +
Kugler JP, Connell FA, Henley CE.  Lack of difference in neonatal mortality between blacks and whites served by the same medical care system . J Fam Pract . 1990;;30:281-288.

Figures

Tables

Interactive Graphics

Video

Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal

References

1 +
Wegman ME.  Annual summary of vital statistics—1988 . Pediatrics . 1989;;84:943-965.
2 +
Allen DM, Buehler JW, Hogue CJR, Strauss LT, Smith JC.  Regional differences in birth-weight specific infant mortality, United States, 1980 . Public Health Rep . 1987;;102:138-145.
3 +
International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision . 2nd ed. Washington, DC: (September) 1980;. US Department of Health and Human Services Publication PHS 80-1260.
4 +
Spurlock CW, Hinds MW, Skaggs JW, Hernandez CE.  Infant death rates among the poor and nonpoor in Kentucky, 1982 to 1983 . Pediatrics . 1987;;80:262-269.
5 +
Wise PH, Kotelchuck M, Wilson ML, Mills M.  Racial and socioeconomic disparities in childhood mortality in Boston . N Engl J Med . 1985;;313:360-366.
6 +
McCormick MC, Shapiro S, Starfield B.  High-risk young mothers . Am J Public Health . 1984;;74:18-23.
7 +
Paneth N, Wallenstein S, Kiely JL, Susser M.  Social class indicators and mortality in low birth weight infants . Am J Epidemiol . 1982;;116:364-375.
8 +
Hein HA, Lathrop SS.  The changing pattern of neonatal mortality in a regionalized system of perinatal care . AJDC . 1986;;140:989-993.
9 +
Paneth N, Kiely JL, Wallenstein S, Marcus M, Pakter J, Susser M.  Newborn intensive care and neonatal mortality in low-birth-weight infants . N Engl J Med . 1982;;307:149-155.
10 +
Knobloch H, Malone A, Ellison PH, Stevens F, Zdeb M.  Considerations in evaluating changes in outcome for infants weighing less than 1,501 grams . Pediatrics . 1982;;69:285-295.
11 +
McCormick MC, Shapiro S, Starfield BH.  The regionalization of perinatal services . JAMA . 1985;;253:799-804.
12 +
McCormick NC.  The contribution of low birth weight to infant mortality and childhood morbidity . N Engl J Med . 1985;;312:82-90.
13 +
Lee K, Paneth N, Gartner LM, Pearlman M.  The very low-birth-weight rate . J Pediatr . 1980;;97:759-764.
14 +
Lee K, Tseng PI, Eidelman Al, Kandall SR, Gartner LM.  Determinants of neonatal mortality . AJDC . 1976;;130:842-845.
15 +
Wallace HM, Goldstein H.  The status of infant mortality in Sweden and the United States . J Pediatr . 1975;;87:995-1000.
16 +
Erikson JD, Bjerkedal T.  Fetal and infant mortality in Norway and the United States . JAMA . 1982;;247:987-991.
17 +
Guyer B, Wallach LA, Rosen SL.  Birth-weight standardized neonatal mortality rates and the prevention of low birth weight . N Engl J Med . 1982;;306:1230-1233.
18 +
Murray JL, Bernfield M.  The differential effect of prenatal care on the incidence of low birth weight among blacks and whites in a prepaid health care plan . N Engl J Med . 1988;;319:1385-1391.
19 +
Rahbar F, Momeni J, Fomufod A, Westney L.  Prenatal care and perinatal mortality in a black population . Obstet Gynecol . 1985;;65:327-329.
20 +
Rawlings JS, Smith FR, Spencer RA.  Routine prenatal care reduces the incidence of preterm delivery and neonatal demise . J Perinatol . 1985;;4:22-25.
21 +
Davis JE.  National initiatives for care of the medically needy . JAMA . 1988;;259:3171-3173.
22 +
Braveman P, Oliver G, Miller MG.  Adverse outcomes and lack of health insurance among newborns in an eight-county area of California, 1982 to 1986 . N Engl J Med . 1989;;321:508-513.
23 +
Leiberman E, Ryan KJ, Monson RR, Schoenbaum SC.  Risk factors accounting for racial differences in the rate of premature birth . N Engl J Med . 1987;;317:743-748.
24 +
Kleinman JC, Kessel SS.  Racial differences in low birth weight: trends and risk factors . N Engl J Med . 1987;;317:749-753.
25 +
Behrman RE.  Premature births among black women . N Engl J Med . 1987;;317:763-765.
26 +
Centers for Disease Control.  Infant mortality among black Americans . MMWR . 1987;;36:1-10.
27 +
Binkin NJ, Williams RL, Hogue CJR, Chen PM.  Reducing black neonatal mortality . JAMA . 1985;;253:372-375.
28 +
Buehler JW, Kleinman JC, Hogue CJR, Strauss LT, Smith JC.  Birth weight-specific infant mortality, United States, 1960 and 1980 . Public Health Rep . 1987;;102:151-161.
29 +
Gould JB, LeRoy S.  Socioeconomic status and low birth weight: a racial comparison . Pediatrics . 1988;;82:896-904.
30 +
Druschel CM, Hale CB.  Postneonatal mortality among normal birth weight infants in Alabama, 1980 to 1983 . Pediatrics . 1987;;80:869-872.
31 +
Jason JM, Jarvis WR.  Infectious diseases: preventable causes of infant mortality . Pediatrics . 1987;;80:335-341.
32 +
Centers for Disease Control.  National birthweight-specific infant mortality surveillance: preliminary analysis—United States, 1980 . MMWR . 1986;;35:269-273.
33 +
Mayer W, Clinton JJ, Newhall D.  A first report of the Department of Defense External Civilian Peer Review of Medical Care . JAMA . 1988;;260:2690-2693.
34 +
Kugler JP, Connell FA, Henley CE.  Lack of difference in neonatal mortality between blacks and whites served by the same medical care system . J Fam Pract . 1990;;30:281-288.

Correspondence

Submit a Letter
CME
Accreditation Information
The American Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The AMA designates this journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM per course. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Physicians who complete the CME course and score at least 80% correct on the quiz are eligible for AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM.
Note: You must get at least of the answers correct to pass this quiz.
Clear Answers | Save For Later
You have not filled in all the answers to complete this quiz
The following questions were not answered:
Sorry, you have unsuccessfully completed this CME quiz with a score of
The following questions were not answered correctly:
Commitment to Change (optional):
Indicate what change(s) you will implement in your practice, if any, based on this CME course.
Your quiz results:
The filled radio buttons indicate your responses. The preferred responses are highlighted
For CME Course: A Proposed Model for Initial Assessment and Management of Acute Heart Failure Syndromes
Indicate what changes(s) you will implement in your practice, if any, based on this CME course.
NOTE:
Citing articles are presented as examples only. In non-demo SCM6 implementation, integration with CrossRef’s “Cited By” API will populate this tab (http://www.crossref.org/citedby.html).
Compression-Only CPR: Pushing the Science Forward
Cone
AAM 2010;304:1493-1495.
All you need to read in the other general journals
BMJ 2010;341:c5893-c1494.
Submit a Comment

Some tools below are only available to our subscribers or users with an online account.

Related Content

Customize your page view by dragging & repositioning the boxes below.

© 2013 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
Powered bySilverchair Information Systems