Recent Trends in Infant Mortality in the United States

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Abstract
Percentage change in age-color-specific infant mortality rates over the years 1950-1957 in metropolitan and other counties, in the several States, and for reported causes of death are compared with national trends to indicate particular groups of infants, areas, and conditions associated with relatively slow reduction in mortality. Annual percentage decrease in infant mortality, 1950-1957, was 1.7%. Lag in reducing the infant death rate was evident on the 1st day of life, and among infants from 1 week to 5 months of age. Annual percent reduction in rate was smaller in metropolitan counties than in nonmetropolitan. Among states, 8 reduced their mortality rates for nonwhite, as well as white infants, in both neonatal and postneonatal periods, between the 4-year periods, 1950-1953 and 1954-1957. The pattern of reduction in 13 states, and for the United States as a whole, was significant decrease in postneonatal mortality for both white and nonwhite infants, but in the neonatal period for white infants only. Infant mortality from infections increased noticeably from 1950-1953 to 1954-1957. Deaths attributed to prenatal and natal causes declined in rate more slowly than those due to postnatal causes.