Infant Mortality Rate – Definition, Causes, Preventive Measures

An Introduction to Infant Mortality

• Infant mortality is the death of an infant before his or her first birthday. In the U.S., the infant mortality rate is about six deaths for every 1,000 live births. This means that about six infants out of every 1,000 who are born in the U.S. die before their first birthday.
• Infant mortality rates vary greatly from country to country. In some countries, such as Japan, the infant mortality rate is less than one death for every 1,000 live births. In other countries, such as Angola, the infant mortality rate is more than 150 deaths for every 1,000 live births.
• There are many reasons why infant mortality rates vary from country to country. Some of the most important reasons include the quality of health care, the quality of the environment, and the level of poverty.

What is the Infant Mortality Rate?

The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is the number of infants who die before their first birthday, per 1,000 live births in a given year.

What is the IMR Formula?

The IMR Formula is a mathematical formula used to calculate the ignition delay time for a fuel/air mixture. The formula takes the fuel’s stoichiometric air/fuel ratio (AFR) into account, as well as the fuel’s ignition delay time.

Causes of Infant Mortality Rate

• There are many causes of infant mortality rate. Some of the causes are preventable while others are not. Some of the causes are health-related while others are not.
• Some of the health-related causes of infant mortality rate include premature birth, low birth weight, congenital anomalies, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and infections. Premature birth is the birth of a baby before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Low birth weight is when a baby is born weighing less than 5.5 pounds. Congenital anomalies are birth defects that are present at birth. SIDS is the sudden death of an infant less than one year old that cannot be explained after a thorough investigation. Infections can include pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis.
• Some of the non-health-related causes of infant mortality rate include accidents, homicide, and suicide. Accidents can include car accidents, suffocation, and drowning. Homicide is the intentional killing of another person. Suicide is the intentional taking of one’s own life.
• Many of these causes of infant mortality rate are preventable. Premature birth, low birth weight, congenital anomalies, SIDS, and infections can all be prevented with good prenatal care. Accidents, homicide, and suicide can all be prevented with good safety measures.