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What is the leading cause of infant mortality? A note on the interpretation of official statistics

K A Sowards1

  • 1Department of Sociology, Washington State University, Vancouver 98686, USA. sowardsk@vancouver.wsu.edu

American Journal of Public Health
|November 30, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Official infant mortality statistics may underestimate the impact of premature birth. This study reveals prematurity is the underlying cause in about one-third of infant deaths, highlighting a significant data discrepancy.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Biostatistics
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Congenital malformations are cited as the leading cause of infant death in the US.
  • Premature birth is often considered a less significant factor in infant mortality compared to congenital malformations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential underestimation of infant mortality attributed to premature birth in vital statistics.
  • To compare official statistics with an alternative etiology-based classification for infant deaths.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of national mortality data from 1985, 1991, and 1996.
  • Utilized an alternative etiology-based classification system.

Main Results:

  • Official vital statistics significantly understate the mortality impact of prematurity.
  • An etiology-based classification identified prematurity as the underlying cause in approximately one-third of all infant deaths.
  • This suggests a substantial discrepancy in how prematurity-related infant deaths are reported.

Conclusions:

  • Technical classification practices in vital statistics can significantly influence the perceived importance of various causes of infant death.
  • Analysts and policymakers must acknowledge how classification methods affect the understanding of infant mortality data.
  • Recognizing these limitations is crucial for accurate public health assessments and policy development regarding infant mortality.
Abstract

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