Study: U.S. infant mortality rate steady

Washington -- A new government report suggests preterm birth contributes to more than one-third of all U.S. infant deaths.

Although the national infant mortality rate is the lowest since the U.S. started collecting data a century ago, there's been little change recently -- 6.78 deaths for every 1,000 live births in 2004 compared with 6.89 in 2000.

The National Center for Health Statistics study includes a new analysis tracking system that found preterm birth contributes to nearly twice as many infant deaths within the first year of life than previously estimated.

"We have long known babies born too soon face many developmental challenges -- even death," said Joann Petrini, director of the March of Dimes Perinatal Data Center. "This closer look at preterm birth gives us a better understanding of the impact of prematurity on infant survival ..."

Non-Hispanic U.S. black women had the highest 2004 infant mortality rate -- 13.6 per 1,000 live births compared with 5.66 per 1,000 births among non-Hispanic white women.

The full report is available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/07newsreleases/infantmortality.htm

Copyright 2007 United Press International.