The infant mortality rate in 2007 for late-term infants (2.07 per 1,000 live births) was 33% lower than for early-term infants (3.09 per 1,000), according to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This difference between early (37-38 weeks’ gestation) and late-term (39-41 weeks) mortality was seen among whites, blacks, Hispanics, Asians or Pacific Islanders, and American Indians or Alaska natives. (See graph, below.)
Term infant mortality for both periods was highest for American Indians and Alaska natives – 6.14 at 37-38 weeks and 3.79 at 39-41 weeks – and lowest for Asians and Pacific Islanders – 2.12 at 37-38 weeks and 1.43 at 39-41 weeks, the CDC said.
The report noted, however, that overall infant mortality in 2007 was highest for non-Hispanic blacks (13.31 per 1,000 live births). American Indians and Alaska natives were second at 9.22 per 1,000, and total U.S. infant mortality was 6.75 per 1,000. Overall infant mortality was 5.63 for non-Hispanic whites and 4.78 for Asians and Pacific Islanders.