KDHE

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) recently released the report Selected Special Statistics: Stillbirths and Infant Deaths, Kansas, 2017. Despite having the lowest number of infant deaths ever in Kansas, the state’s infant mortality rate (IMR) edged up by one-tenth of a point in 2017.  The 2017 IMR was 6.0 infant deaths per 1,000 live births compared to the 5.9 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2016.

“In 2017 217 resident infant deaths occurred, six less than 2016,” said KDHE Acting Secretary and State Health Officer Lee A. Norman, M.D.  “However, when combined with a 4.2 percent decrease in the number of births in 2017, the infant mortality rate went up.” said Dr. Norman.

Other key findings of the report include:

• Prematurity was the leading cause of death for Black non-Hispanics, accounting for 27.2% of the infant deaths in to this population group doe 2013 to 2017, Congenital anomalies were the leading causes for White non-Hispanics and Hispanics any race.

• For 2013-2017 infant deaths, over two thirds (68.7%) died in the neonatal period.

• Of linked birth-infant deaths during 2013-2017 where birthweight was known, almost one fourth (23.4%) of infants weighed less than 500 grams, slightly over a fourth (25.1%) of infants weighed 500-1499 grams, and 16.4% of infants weighed 1500-2499 grams.

• Of the linked birth-infant deaths during 2013-2017 where gestation was known, almost four out of five infants (79.8%) were born premature or early term.

The full report’s findings can be found in the report online at  http://www.kdheks.gov/phi/AS_Tables/AS_2017_Tables_and_Figures/fetal/2017_IMR_REPORT.pdf