Infant Mortality

Date posted: 04/02/2008

The infant mortality rate is measured as the deaths per 1,000 children during their first year of life. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the top five causes of infant deaths nationally in 2005 were:

1. Congenital Anomalies
2. Pre-Term/Low Birth Weight
3. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
4. Problems Related to Complications of Pregnancy
5. Cord and Placental Complications

What this chart shows: Infant Mortality Rates - United States, Colorado, Larimer County, 2002 - 2006

* The 2006 United States IMR figure is an estimate. Final figures should be available in January 2009.

Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, National Vital Statistics, World Factbook (CIA)

See data table

What these data tell us:

In 2006, there were 404 infant deaths in Colorado and 16 in Larimer County. The five-year average rate of mortality (from 2002 to 2006) was higher for Colorado than for Larimer County (6.1 per 1,000 compared to 5.3 per 1,000). Both Colorado and Larimer County's infant death rate has been consistently lower than the national average rate of 6.8 over the five years, although there has been fluctuation in the individual rates from year to year.

What this chart shows: Infant Mortality Rates by Gender - Larimer County, 2002-2006

Data source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

See data table

What these data tell us:

In Larimer County, both male and female infant mortality rates have fluctuated from 2002 to 2006. Normally male infant mortality rates are slightly higher than female rates, but that has not been the case in Larimer County during 2005 and 2006. One possible explanation is that the raw numbers in Larimer County are relatively low so even slight deviations equate to higher percentages. A five-year average of infant deaths indicates that 53% were male, while only 51% of births were male. Male infants are known to have a higher mortality rate than female infants, in part, because they are at higher risk for premature birth (National Center for Health Statistics).

Additional Information:

On Compass -

• Adult Alcohol Use
• Birth Defects
• Low Birth Weight Babies
• Perinatal Alcohol & Tobacco Use
• Population Size & Growth
• Prenatal Care
• Teen Fertility & Birth Rates

Outside Compass -

• Larimer County Health Department
• Centers for Disease Control, Office of Minority Health - Eliminate Disparities in Infant Mortality
• Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment - the Colorado Health Information Dataset (COHID) is a searchable database with information on pregnancy, newborns, birth defects, etc.
• Infant Mortality Rates Vary by Race and Ethnicity, Adoption.com by CDC
• Supplemental Analyses of Recent Trends in Infant Mortality, Centers for Disease Control, Feb 2004

Industry Standards or Targets:

N/A

Data Tables:

Infant Mortality Rate, 2002 - 2006 (Rate per 1,000)

	Colorado			Larimer County
	Total Deaths	Total Live Births	Total Crude Death Rate	Total Deaths	Total Live Births	Total Crude Death Rate
2002	413	67,933	6.1	16	3,300	4.8
2003	419	68,963	6.1	23	3,374	6.8
2004	432	68,931	6.3	12	3,435	3.5
2005	444	69,052	6.4	22	3,304	6.7
2006	404	69,670	5.8	16	3,308	4.8

See chart

Infant Mortality Rate by Gender - Larimer County, 2002 - 2006 (Rate per 1,000)

	Male			Female
	Total Deaths	Total Live Births	Crude Death Rate	Total Deaths	Total Live Births	Crude Death Rate
2002	9	1,690	5.3	7	1,610	4.3
2003	13	1,728	7.5	10	1,646	6.1
2004	7	1,759	4.0	5	1,676	3.0
2005	11	1,692	6.5	11	1,612	6.8
2006	7	1,694	4.1	9	1,614	5.6

See chart

Percentage of Live Births/Infant Deaths by Gender - Larimer County, 2002 - 2006

	Male		Female
	% of Total Live Births	% of Total Deaths	% of Total Live Births	% of Total Deaths
2002	51%	56%	49%	44%
2003	51%	57%	49%	43%
2004	51%	58%	49%	42%
2005	51%	50%	49%	50%
2006	51%	44%	49%	56%

See chart

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