Urbanization and Differentials in White and Nonwhite Infant Mortality

Abstract

This study analyzes infant deaths in the United States, 1962 to 1967, by place of residence, to determine to what degree variations in age at death are related to degree of urbanization and race. Results of the study indicate that: (1) after one day of life infant mortality increases progressively as degree of urbanization decreases; (2) the differences between urban and rural death rates are greatest in the posthebdomadal (1 week or older) period; (3) in all age groups at all levels of urbanization, the nonwhite infant is at a marked disadvantage relative to the white infant; (4) the older the infant, the greater the disadvantage for nonwhite infants in rural areas; (5) had the white infant mortality rate prevailed among the nonwhite population over the six-year period from 1962 to 1967 an estimated annual total of 11,597 nonwhite infants would have survived their first year of life; (6) 40% of the excess deaths are in infants under 7 days and 60% in the posthebdomadal period; (7) fetal death rates increase progressively as degree of urbanization decreases, complementing a direct relationship between under 1 day mortality and urbanization resulting in a level trend for perinatal mortality.