Three maternal risk factors associated with elevated risk of postneonatal mortality among Alaska native population

Compared to non-Natives in Alaska, the Alaska Native population has a postneonatal mortality rate 2.3 times higher (95% CI 1.9, 2.7). The objective of the study was to identify variables that account for this elevated risk.

The dataset used included birth and death certificate records for all Alaska-resident live births and infant deaths occurring during 1992-2004. Race was defined as Alaska Native or non-Native. The association between race and postneonatal mortality was examined using univariate, stratified and regression analyses. Variables were considered confounding if they resulted in a change of at least 10% in the odds ratio between race and postneonatal mortality when added to a bivariate model, or when removed from a multivariate model.

In stratified analysis, race remained associated with postneonatal mortality within most categories of marital status, maternal education, maternal age, prenatal tobacco or alcohol use, prenatal care utilization, parity and residence. The odds ratio between race and postneonatal mortality was reduced to 1.3 (95% CI 1.0, 1.6) by controlling for education, a composite variable of marital status and the presence of father's name on the birth certificate, and prenatal tobacco or alcohol use.

A small number of potentially modifiable factors explain most of the postneonatal mortality disparity between Alaska Natives and non-Natives, leaving a relatively small increase in risk. These findings suggest that by targeting Alaska Native women who display these characteristics, the postneonatal mortality gap may be reduced.