The state of South Dakota's child: 1993

This annual report on South Dakota's children highlights 1992 natality and mortality data and discusses the state's effort to improve its rate of childhood immunizations. In 1992 there was a slight increase over the previous year in total births (11,007) with 15% of these American Indians and 2% of other ethnic backgrounds. The state's 1992 infant mortality rate of 9.3 is the lowest ever recorded by South Dakota but represents a rate that is 9% higher than that of the United States. Analyses show that the post neonatal rate of death for American Indians remains much higher than that observed by minorities nation-wide. Progress is continuing in decreasing deaths due to perinatal causes, but infant death due to congenital anomalies and Sudden Infant Death are higher for South Dakota's white and minority populations than they are nation-wide. Current data show that only 61% of young children in South Dakota are up to date in their immunizations. The state is one of six sites in the nation to receive special funds to develop innovative strategies to achieve the year 2000 goal of a 90% childhood immunization rate. To achieve this goal there must be a commitment on the part of all health care providers to assure surveillance of children's immunization status and provision of vaccines to protect children and communities from preventable serious diseases.