The health of mothers, infants, and children is critical, both as a reflection of the current health status of a large segment of the US population and as a predictor of the health of the next generation. This section addresses a range of indicators of maternal, infant, and child health-primarily those that affect pregnant and postpartum women and those that affect infants' health and survival.

The infant mortality rate (IMR) is an important measure of a nation's health and a worldwide indicator of health status and social well-being. As of 1998, the US ranked 28th among industrialized nations in infant mortality. (CDC, 2002). From 1990 to 2000, critical measures of increased risk of infant death, such as low or very low birth weight, actually increased in the US. In addition, the disparity in IMRs between whites and specific racial and ethnic groups persists. The draft national health objective for 2010 is no more than 5 deaths per 1,000 live births. (US DHHS, 2000).

Four causes account for more than half of all infant deaths: birth defects, disorders related to short gestation and unspecified low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and respiratory distress syndrome. (US DHHS, 2000).

How to access information in this section Click on each heading to view and/or print a Portable Document Format (PDF) file of that sub- section. Please note that each PDF includes this page and the references and resources for this section. Refer to the bulleted list below each heading to view the subheadings contained in that section of the Informatic Sheet. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, please download a free copy. Please use the Return to Health Topics Grid icon, located in the top right-hand corner of the page to access the other health topics and the overview document. Download whole section [PDF, KB] Incidence and Prevalence[PDF, KB] Leading Causes of Infant Death Regional Differences Traditional Health Beliefs and Practices [PDF, KB] Risk Factors and Challenges [PDF, 38KB] Birth Weight and Period of Gestation Prenatal Care Maternal Age Maternal Alcohol Use Maternal Smoking Regional Risk Factors Strengths and Protective Factors [PDF, KB] Low Rates for Many Risk Factors and Complications Limited Maternal Alcohol Use References and Resources [PDF, KB]