Birth-weight-specific infant mortality risks and leading causes of death. Illinois, 1980-1989
C. J. Alo, H. L. Howe and M. R. Nelson
Division of Epidemiologic Studies, Illinois Department of Public Health, Springfield 62761.
OBJECTIVE--To describe birth-weight-specific differences in mortality risks
between white and black Illinois infants by age at death and leading cause
of death. DESIGN--Population-based birth cohort study. SETTING--State of
Illinois. PATIENTS--All Illinois infants who were born from 1980 through
1989 and reported to the Illinois Department of Public Health. The death
certificates of these infants were matched to corresponding birth
certificates using a computerized linkage algorithm. INTERVENTIONS--None.
RESULTS--The high black infant mortality rate is attributable to higher
mortality risks in the neonatal period for black, normal birth-weight
infants and in the postneonatal period for all black infants, regardless of
birth weight. CONCLUSION--Efforts to narrow the black-white gap in infant
mortality and to reduce black mortality should not be limited to reduction
of low birth weight and premature birth in black infants but should also
include efforts to reduce risk factors associated with mortality among
normal birthweight black infants.
