NCJ Number
202419
Date Published
2003
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes statistical information on child deaths from natural-manner causes in Dallas County, TX, for 2001.
Abstract
Data presented in this report were obtained from death and birth certificates held by the Texas Department of Health Vital Statistics and the Dallas County Medical Examiner's office. The Dallas County Child Death and Infant Mortality Review Team (CDRT) examines deaths of all children who die in the county when they are less than 20 weeks gestation to 17 years old. This report profiles 312 infant and child deaths in the county due to "natural manner" and the critical risk factors associated with their causes of deaths. These include 246 child deaths certified by an attending physician and the deaths of 66 children, including the 22 child deaths investigated and certified by the Medical Examiner's office as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Infants accounted for the majority (78 percent) of the natural-manner of deaths to children, with most of those (73 percent) dying in the neonatal phase (before 28 days of life). The overwhelming cause of infant mortality was prematurity (45 percent of all infant deaths). The infant mortality rate was 123 percent higher for African-American infants and 22 percent higher for Hispanic infants than for White infants. For children older than 1 year old, the leading cause of natural-manner of death was malignancies/tumors, accounting for 26 percent of deaths. Prevention recommendations offered by the CDRT include promotion of early and continuous prenatal care; promotion of avoidance of smoking, alcohol use, and illicit drugs during pregnancy; psychosocial support and adequate health care for parents; immunizations for infants and regular infant check-ups; parenting classes that include safety education; facilitation of enrollment of income-eligible parents in Medicaid; and improved access to the Children's Health Insurance Program. 12 tables