INFANT MORTALITY IN ORANGE COUNTY

Although a steadily increasing number of women are going without any prenatal care, the county’s infant mortality rate between 1985 and 1986 decreased significantly. (Figures for 1987 are not available.) The majority of women who went without prenatal care in 1986 are Latino but their babies have a relatively low infant mortality rate.

INFANT MORTALITY: 1986

37,612 live births.

Infant deaths: 248 (6.59 per 1,000 live births).

Neonatal (first 28 days after birth) deaths: 165 (4.39 per 1,000).

Babies born to women with no prenatal care: 905 (2.4%).

Babies born to women with prenatal care in third trimester only: 1,102 (5.3%). 1985

36,620 live births.

Infant deaths: 307 (8.4 per 1,000).

Neonatal deaths: 214 (5.84 per 1,000).

Babies born to women with no prenatal care: 686 (1.9%).

Babies born to women with prenatal care in third trimester only: 1,183 (3.3%). 1984

34,264 live births.

Infant deaths: 271 (7.9 per 1,000).

Neonatal deaths: 181 (5.28 per 1,000).

Babies born to women with no prenatal care: 538 (1.6%).

Babies born to women with prenatal care in third trimester only: 1,611 (4.9%). 1983

33,899 live births.

Infant deaths: 304 (9.0 per 1,000).

Neonatal deaths: 198 (5.84 per 1,000)

Babies born to women with no prenatal care: 437 (1.3%).

Babies born to women with prenatal care in third trimester only: 1,478 (4.5%). 1986 BIRTH OUTCOMES BY ETHNICITY: Of 37,612 live births, 905 were from mothers who had no prenatal care. Of these 905:

710 were Latino.

155 were white.

10 were black.

12 were Asian.

10 Southeast Asian.

2 ethnicity unknown. Infant mortality rate, expressed as the number of deaths per 1,000 live births:

Latino--5.4

White--7.8

Black--9.0

Southeast Asian--5.6

Other Asian--1.2 Source: Orange County Health Agency