First Steps Database: Infant Mortality and SIDS

Infant mortality rates and Sudden Infant Death (SIDS) rates for all racial/ethnic groups in Washington have decreased considerably since 1988. Although the mortality rates for African American infants and American Indian infants remain higher than the mortality rate for white infants, the disparity between the groups has been reduced. After controlling for poverty, the disparity in SIDS rates has been eliminated for African American infants and reduced for American Indian infants. Key factors are a very strong statewide program; overall improvements in measures of birth outcomes over time along with regular monitoring of outcomes for high-risk groups; and risk factor data that suggested targeted interventions for high-risk groups, and implementation of these interventions in 2002. Changes occurred over a 15-year time period, and are provided in this study.