PATTERNS OF INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD MORTALITY IN THE CALIFORNIA PROJECT OF A COLLABORATIVE INTER-AMERICAN STUDY

The study found infant death rates of 18.5 per 1,000 live births in San Francisco and 17.2 per 1,000 live births in the three counties. Mortality in the neonatal period accounted for two-thirds of these deaths. Low birth weight played a key role in neonatal mortality, particularly during the first day of life. The study found that 77.7% of the neonatal fatalities and 85.6% of those dying in the first day of life weighed 2,500 grams or less at birth. Mortality was also very high among infants of mothers under 20 and over 34 years of age. The vast majority of babies born to young mothers who die the first day had very low birth weights. This demonstrates a clear need for special measures capable of reducing the health risks faced by both young mothers and their children. The authors recommend various specific measures that should be taken and present data obtained by the California Project on other aspects of mortality among infants and preschool children 1-4 years of age.