Very specifically, the term “infant mortality” is for any infant who dies before his or her first birthday. By knowing how many infant deaths happen each year, people are able to learn about the overall health of a country.
In Summit County, infant mortality is a priority area of research and treatment for racial minorities. Black infants are two times more likely to die before their first birthday compared to White infants. These infants are also three times more likely to die from complications of having a low birth weight compared to White babies. Lastly, Black mothers are twice as likely to receive prenatal care too late (by their third trimester) or not at all, when compared to White mothers.