Medical Causes of Infant Mortality



Medical Causes of Infant Mortality

Annotated Bibliography

Frisbie W. Parker, et al (2004), the increasing racial disparity in infant mortality: Respiratory distress syndrome and other causes. Vol 41- Number 4, Nov 2004: 773-800. Data retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/1515230?uid=3738832&uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&sid=21102060376373

Frisbie (2004) observed and studied the health disparities among black and white people responsible for an infant death. Objective behind his study was to analyze the factors behind this increasing inequity in health. Data is collected for this purpose through NCHS linked files for birth and infant death, which have thousands of cases to generate major findings. It is observed through studies that infants born as early as 22 weeks were being resuscitated (Sowards 1997: Hack and Fanaroff 1993). However there is an increase in plural births responsible for preterm births and low weight infants.

Therapies like pulmonary surfactant for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) has introduced among black white disparities. RDS occurs as a result of decline in a natural lung surfactant of fetus and functioning of the alveoli is compromised and failure of gaseous exchange. This is a real problem in preterm and low weight babies. Results have shown that difference between black and white ratios increased for RDS with raise from2.62 to 3.12.

It has observed that RDS is more common among black ethnic group infants due to preterm birth and low weight. RDS is reported as fourth leading cause of mortality in USA. The significant increase in black and white disparities in RDS mortality should be considered to redevelop the efforts related to social, behavior, culture and economic factors. Which are responsible for disparity? Various factors were considered to analyze risks. These included age, marital status, sex of infant and nativity.

Outcomes obtained from this resulted in three categories: Infant death due to RDS, infant death due to other causes, Infant survival rates. These categories are designed on basis of NCHS recommendations. Findings showed the prevalence of RDS, IMR and other conditions in all and low birth weights. It is also found that major risks in ethnic disparities are related to place of birth, foreign born, maternal age, marital status, parity, sex, education, previous loss, medical risks, labor or delivery complications and parental care. It is concluded from the results which showed more occurrence of above factors in black ethnic groups.

Tomashek Kay Marie, MD, MPH; Hsia Jason, PHD; and Iyasu Solomon, MBBS (2003), Trends in Post neonatal Mortality Attributable to Injury, United States, 1988-1998, Vol 111 No 5. Data retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12728142

Tomashe (2003) put forward the hypothesis that about half of the infant mortality in USA among neonates of age between 28-364 days occurs because of preventable diseases which includes sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), infections and injuries. So objective is to develop strategies to decreases incidences and targeting high risk populations. Methods used by author for the analysis of infant mortality trends are to collect data. This data is based on USA infant death certificate record for the last ten years. From these records, cause of the death ...