Infant Mortality in North Carolina
Overview
Infant mortality is the death of a baby within its first
year of life. Infant mortality rates are the number of infant
deaths for every 1,000 live births within a given timeframe
(usually a year).
North Carolina's infant death rate continues to exceed the
national average. In 2008, 1,066 babies died before their
first birthday - a rate of 8.25 infant deaths per 1,000 live
births. Based on provisional data for 2008, North Carolina ranks
44th in the nation in infant mortality. The provisional
infant mortality rate for the United States is 6.8 deaths
per 1,000 live births.
During the past ten years the infant death rate in N.C. has
decreased from 9.3 deaths per 1,000 live births
in 1998 to 8.25 deaths in 2008. The state's infant mortality
rate has decreased 33 percent since 1988 when North Carolina
had the highest infant mortality rate in the nation.
Resources to Reduce the Risks of Infant Mortality
The North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation is dedicated
to reducing infant death and illness and to improving the
health of women and young children in North Carolina.
To that end, we produce and distribute pre-pregnancy, pregnancy,
and post-pregnancy public
education materials that teach women and families how
to increase their chances of having a healthy pregnancy and
how to reduce the risks of infant death and illness. We also
host a Web site For the Public that
is full of tips and resources on pre-conception, pregnancy,
and parenting topics.
To read more about what
we do and how you can help by volunteering or donating,
please visit the About Us
section of this Web site.
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Last updated: May 2010
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