Definition

Number of infants who died before their first birthday (under 365 days), per 1,000 live births.

Numerator

Number of infants who died before their first birthday.

Denominator

Total number of live births.

Why Is This Important?

The infant mortality rate is an important measure of a nation's health and a worldwide indicator of health status and social well-being. The top four causes of infant mortality in Utah are perinatal conditions (including preterm birth), birth defects, medical conditions of the infant, and sudden unexpected infant death (SUID).

Other Objectives

Reduce the racial disparity in infant mortality rates. Healthy People 2030 Objective MICH-02 aims to reduce the infant mortality rate to 5.0 infant deaths per 1,000 live births.

How Are We Doing?

The infant mortality rate has declined throughout the past 30 years both locally and nationally. The Utah infant mortality rate in 2023 was 5.2 deaths per 1,000 live births, similar to the 2022 infant mortality rate of 4.9. During 2023, 233 Utah infants died before their first birthday.

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

Historically, the Utah infant mortality rate has been lower than the national rate. In 2022 the Utah infant mortality rate was 4.9 deaths per 1,000 live births, lower than the U.S. rate of 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births (CDC).

What Is Being Done?

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Maternal and Infant Health Program is currently reviewing data to identify modifiable risk factors for infant mortality, developing appropriate interventions, and promoting preconception and interconception health care for all reproductive aged women.

Evidence-based Practices

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services participates in the Utah Women and Newborn Quality Collaborative (UWNQC), a statewide perinatal quality collaborative. This workgroup of clinicians and public health professionals engages in the development and measurement of health care quality indicators and quality improvement projects in the areas of maternal and neonatal health issues.

Available Services

'''Baby Your Baby Hotline:''' 1-800-826-9662[[br]] [https://babyyourbaby.org/][[br]] A resource to answer pregnancy related questions and locate services for the public. [[br]] [[br]] '''Utah Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program:''' [[br]] *[https://wic.utah.gov/ Utah WIC website][[br]] *[https://health.utah.gov/vpms/client/ Utah WIC appointment request][[br]] *[https://wic.utah.gov/locations/][[br]] *Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/p/WIC-Utah-100064714595124/][[br]] *Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/wic_utah/ @wic_utah] [[br]] WIC provides free nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and supplemental foods to pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, infants, and children up to their 5th birthday who have low to moderate incomes.[[br]] [[br]] Preconception and pregnancy health information is available from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services Maternal and Infant Health Program. [https://mihp.utah.gov/] [[br]] [[br]] '''Utah Tobacco Quit Line:''' 1-888-567-8788[[br]][[br]] '''MotherToBaby:'''[[br]] Phone - 1-866-626-6847[[br]] Text - 1-855-999-3525[[br]] Chat - [https://mothertobaby.org][[br]] A service to answer questions about what medications are safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding.[[br]] [[br]] '''Baby Watch Early Intervention Hotline:''' 1-800-961-4226[[br]] Utah network of services for children, birth to three years of age, with developmental delay or disabilities. [[br]][[br]] '''Utah Women and Newborn Quality Collaborative:''' [https://mihp.utah.gov/uwnqc][[br]] Provider and patient education to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes. [[br]][[br]] '''March of Dimes:''' [http://www.marchofdimes.org][[br]] The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.[[br]] *Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/marchofdimes][[br]] *X (formally Twitter): [https://x.com/marchofdimes @MarchofDimes][[br]] *YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/marchofdimes][[br]] [[br]] '''University of Utah Pregnancy After Loss Program:''' 1-801-213-2995[[br]] [https://healthcare.utah.edu/womens-health/pregnancy-birth/pregnancy-after-loss][[br]] The Utah Pregnancy After Loss Program is designed specifically to support families after a pregnancy loss, newborn death, or severely complicated pregnancy. [[br]] [[br]] '''Share Parents of Utah:''' 1-801-272-5355[[br]] [http://sputah.org/][[br]] A support program for families experiencing pregnancy loss or death of an infant. [[br]]

Health Program Information

Breastfeeding reduces infant mortality. The "Stepping Up for Utah Babies" Program was developed by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and partners to recognize Utah hospitals that have taken steps to promote, protect, educate, and encourage breastfeeding in their facilities. Using a learning collaborative model, hospitals can implement 2, 4, 6, 8, or all 10 of the evidence-based steps to successful breastfeeding identified by the World Health Organization and UNICEF ([https://www.babyfriendlyusa.org/for-facilities/practice-guidelines/10-steps-and-international-code/]). A tool kit was adapted and developed outlining best practices, resources, action plans, and barriers to implementing each of the steps. Hospitals that successfully implement each two-step interval (up to 10 steps) will be certified by the Utah DHHS and recognized through media and public celebrations. The Utah DHHS is also a participant in the Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) Case Registry, a research project hosted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention- Division of Reproductive Health. The SUID Case Registry collects data about the circumstances associated with SUID deaths and conducts investigations into these deaths. Collected data enables the state to develop strategies to prevent future deaths.

Relevant Population Characteristics

The following have higher rates of infant mortality: *Mother's age (mothers younger than 20 years) *Mother's educational attainment (high school diploma or less) *Mother being unmarried[[br]] [[br]] The estimated rate of infant mortality is higher for people who identify as Black, NHPI, or AI/AN, but these differences are not statistically significant.

Health Care System Factors

The following health care system factors contribute to a higher risk of infant mortality: *Access to prenatal care *No health insurance

Risk Factors

Higher rates of infant mortality are noted among the following: * Maternal inadequate weight gain during pregnancy * Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI (obese prior to pregnancy) * Maternal tobacco use * Less than 6 months between pregnancies * Infant birth weight (less than 2,500 g) * Preterm infant * Multiple gestation (e.g. twins)

Health Status Outcomes

The following outcomes are related to infant mortality: *Costs associated with low birth weight births *Premature births *Maternal morbidity and mortality *Infant morbidity

Data Notes

U.S. data from National Vital Statistics System [https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db492.htm].

Data Notes

*Use caution in interpreting; the estimate has a coefficient of variation > 30% and is therefore deemed unreliable by Utah Department of Health and Human Services standards. **The estimate has been suppressed because 1) the relative standard error is greater than 50% or 2) the observed number of events is very small and not appropriate for publication.

Data Notes

Note: Local health district based on district of infant's residence. **The estimate has been suppressed because 1) the relative standard error is greater than 50% or 2) the observed number of events is very small and not appropriate for publication.

Data Notes

**The estimate has been suppressed because 1) the relative standard error is greater than 50% or 2) the observed number of events is very small and not appropriate for publication.

References and Community Resources

Maternal and Infant Health Program - Utah Department of Health and Human Services (Utah DHHS)[[br]] [http://mihp.utah.gov][[br]] [[br]] Maternal and Child Health Bureau - Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)[[br]] [http://mchb.hrsa.gov][[br]] [[br]] Reproductive Health - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)[[br]] [http://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/index.htm][[br]] [[br]] March of Dimes[[br]] [http://www.marchofdimes.org/]