Trends in Infant Mortality in United States: A Brief Study of the Southeastern States from 2005–2009

Xiaojia He, Luma Akil, Winfred G. Aker, Huey-Min Hwang and Hafiz A. Ahmad
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Xiaojia He: Department of Biology, Jackson State University, 1400 JR Lynch Street, Jackson, MS 39056, USA
Luma Akil: Department of Biology, Jackson State University, 1400 JR Lynch Street, Jackson, MS 39056, USA
Winfred G. Aker: Department of Biology, Jackson State University, 1400 JR Lynch Street, Jackson, MS 39056, USA
Huey-Min Hwang: Department of Biology, Jackson State University, 1400 JR Lynch Street, Jackson, MS 39056, USA
Hafiz A. Ahmad: Department of Biology, Jackson State University, 1400 JR Lynch Street, Jackson, MS 39056, USA

IJERPH, 2015, vol. 12, issue 5, 1-13

Abstract: While overall infant mortality rates have declined over the past several decades, the Southeastern states have remained the leading states in high infant death in the United States. In this study, we studied the differences in infant mortality in the southeastern United States from 2005 through 2009 according to mother’s characteristics (age of mother, marital status, maternal race, maternal education), birth characteristics (month when maternal prenatal care began, birth weight), and infant’s characteristics (age of infant at death). This paper illustrates the significance level of each characteristic of mothers and infants, as well as socioeconomic factors that contribute to significant infant mortality that impacts subgroups within the US population. Descriptive statistics and analysis of variance studies were performed and presented. Statistical analysis of the contribution of causes of infant death to infant mortality at the national and state level was elaborated. Data suggest that mothers with no prenatal care had a very high overall infant death rate (5281.83 and 4262.16 deaths per 100,000 births in Mississippi and Louisiana, respectively, whereas the US average was 3074.82 deaths ( p < 0.01)). It is suggested that better education and living quality should be available and improved for the residents in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

Keywords: infant mortality; public health; southeastern states; socioeconomic status; Alabama; Louisiana; Mississippi; Georgia; Florida (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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