KIDS COUNT Indicator Brief: Reducing Infant Mortality

In short, despite the wide range of expertise that has been brought to bear on reducing infant mortality across the nation, the first year of life remains a time of considerable risk for many babies. Although the U.S. spends more on health care than any other country, our infant mortality rate remains higher than that of most other industrialized nations.

Because prevention efforts have not achieved the hoped-for results, researchers and policymakers have begun to shift from a narrow focus on prenatal and infant care to a broader emphasis on women’s health. A recent report from Trust for America’s Health asserts that widespread chronic disease epidemics such as obesity and diabetes are taking a toll on America’s infants, especially those who are African American, urban and poor.