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Home , Infant mortality

1. HEALTH STATUS 1.8. mortality

Infant mortality, the rate at which babies of less than have also been observed in Korea and Luxembourg. On one year of age die, reflects the effect of economic and the other hand, the reduction in infant mortality rates social conditions on the health of and new- has been slower in the Netherlands and the United borns as well as the effectiveness of health systems. States. Infant mortality rates in the United States used In 2007, infant mortality rates in OECD countries to be well below the OECD average (and median), but ranged from a low of two to three per 1 000 live they are now above average (Figure 1.8.3). births in , Nordic countries (with the exception Numerous studies have used infant mortality rates as of Denmark), Ireland and Luxembourg, up to a high a health outcome to examine the effect of a variety of of 16 and 21 deaths per 1 000 live births in Mexico and medical and non-medical determinants of health Turkey respectively (Figure 1.8.1). Infant mortality (e.g. Joumard et al., 2008). Although most analyses rates were also relatively high (six or more deaths per show an overall negative relationship between infant 1 000 live births) in the United States and in some mortality and health spending, the fact that some eastern and central European countries. Excluding countries with a high level of health expenditure do Turkey and Mexico, the average across the remaining not necessarily exhibit low levels of infant mortality, 28 OECD countries was 3.9 in 2007. has led some researchers to conclude that more Around two-thirds of the deaths that occur during the health spending is not necessarily required to obtain first year of life are neonatal deaths (i.e. during the better results (Retzlaff-Roberts et al., 2004). A body of first four weeks). Birth defects, prematurity and other research also suggests that many factors beyond the conditions arising during are the principal quality and efficiency of the , such as factors contributing to neonatal mortality in devel- income inequality, the social environment, and oped countries. With an increasing number of women individual lifestyles and attitudes, influence infant deferring childbearing and the rise in multiple births mortality rates (Kiely et al., 1995). linked with treatments, the number of pre- term births has tended to increase (see Indicator 1.9 “Infant health: low ”). In a number of higher-income countries, this has contributed to a leveling-off of the downward trend in infant mortality Definition and deviations rates over the past few years. The increase in the birth of very small was the main reason for the first The infant is the number of increase since the 1950s in infant mortality rates in deaths of children under one year of age in a the United States between 2001 and 2002. For deaths given year, expressed per 1 000 live births. Neo- beyond a month (post neonatal mortality), there tends natal mortality refers to the of children to be a greater range of causes – the most common under 28 days. being SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), birth Some of the international variation in infant and defects, and accidents. neonatal mortality rates may be due to varia- All OECD countries have achieved remarkable progress tions among countries in registering practices of in reducing infant mortality rates from the levels premature infants. Most countries have no of 1970, when the average was approaching 30 deaths or weight limits for mortality per 1 000 live births (Figure 1.8.3). This equates to a registration. Minimal limits exist for Norway (to cumulative reduction of over 80% since 1970. be counted as a death following a live birth, the has seen its infant mortality rate reduced by more than gestational age must exceed 12 weeks) and in 7% per year on average since 1970, going from the the Czech Republic, France, the Netherlands and country with the highest rate in Europe to an infant a minimum gestational age of 22 weeks mortality rate among the lowest in the OECD in 2007 and/or a weight threshold of 500 g is applied. (Figure 1.8.2). Large reductions in infant mortality rates

30 HEALTH AT A GLANCE 2009: OECD INDICATORS © OECD 2009 1. HEALTH STATUS

1.8. Infant mortality

1.8.1 Infant mortality rates, 1.8.2 Decline in infant mortality rates, 2007 (or latest year available) 1970-2007 (or nearest year)

1.8 Luxembourg 6.9 2.0 5.0 2.5 3.9 2.6 Japan 4.3 2.7 Finland 4.2 3.1 Ireland 4.8 3.1 Norway 3.7 3.1 Czech Republic 4.9 3.4 Portugal 7.3 3.6 Greece 5.5 3.7 Austria 5.1 3.7 Italy 5.4 3.7 Spain 5.3 3.8 France 4.3 3.9 4.6 3.9 Switzerland 3.6 3.9 OECD1 4.5 4.0 Belgium 4.4 4.0 Denmark 3.4 4.1 Korea 6.4 4.1 Netherlands 3.0 4.2 Australia 3.8 4.8 New Zealand 3.3 4.8 United Kingdom 3.6 5.0 Canada 3.6 5.9 Hungary 4.8 6.0 Poland 4.8 6.1 Slovak Republic 3.8 6.7 United States 3.0 15.7 Mexico 4.3 20.7 Turkey 5.1 25 20 1510 50 02468 Deaths per 1 000 live births Average annual rate of decline (%) 1. Because of their high rates, Mexico and Turkey are excluded from the OECD average.

1.8.3 Infant mortality rates, selected OECD countries, 1970-2007

Canada Sweden United States OECD Deaths per 1 000 live births 30

25

20

15

10

5

0 19701975198019851990199520002005

Source: OECD Health Data 2009. 1 2 http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/717581042734

HEALTH AT A GLANCE 2009: OECD INDICATORS © OECD 2009 31 From: Health at a Glance 2009 OECD Indicators

Access the complete publication at: https://doi.org/10.1787/health_glance-2009-en

Please cite this chapter as:

OECD (2009), “Infant mortality”, in Health at a Glance 2009: OECD Indicators, OECD Publishing, Paris.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1787/health_glance-2009-10-en

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