Improve Infant, Child Health and Maternal Outcomes
has been a general decline in infant deaths over the past two decades.
Despite a minor upturn in 1996, the infant death rate for the total
population is at an all-time low and has been below the target since
1995. The rate for the black population decreased in 1997 after an increase
in 1996, but it is uncertain that the rate will continue to decrease
quickly enough to achieve the target by 2000.
of both total and black low birth weight babies have been increasing
over the time period 1985 through 1997. This trend has occurred in spite
of the decline in total infant mortality over the same period. This
is unexpected, as infant mortality is usually correlated with low birth
weight. These findings are thought to be a result of technological advancements
in caring for underweight infants in neonatal intensive care units.
Decreasing the percentage of low birth weight babies is related to the
degree to which women obtain early, adequate prenatal care. If present
trends in the pattern of late or no entry into the prenatal care system
continue, these objectives related to low birth weight will probably
not be met.
of both total and black newborns with a weight at birth under 1,500
grams have not declined over the period; each percentage was higher
in 1997 than in 1985. If current trends continue, it appears unlikely
that either objective will be met.
of mothers of all races who received no prenatal care remained virtually
unchanged over the past ten years, while the percent of black mothers
for whom no prenatal care was reported has more than doubled. At current
trends, it appears unlikely that the year 2000 objective for black mothers
will be met and uncertain that the objective for mothers of all races
can be achieved.
of mothers of all races, black mothers, and Hispanic mothers who reported
receiving early prenatal care have been fluctuating, but the overall
trend does not suggest growth in the percentage of women getting early
prenatal care. Analysis of data on entry into prenatal care is complicated
by the relatively large amount of missing data, however, it appears
unlikely that the objectives for early prenatal care will be met for
any targeted race or ethnic group or by the total population by the
to Health Statistics 1997
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