ADOLESCENT PARITY AND INFANT-MORTALITY, MINNESOTA, 1980 THROUGH 1988

The association of parity and infant mortality was studied using linke d birth-death files for 46 985 infants born to 11- to 19-year-old Minn esota residents between 1980 and 1988, Compared with infants of primip aras, infants of multiparas were at twice the risk for infant and post neonatal death but at no increased risk for neonatal death. They were also at two to three times the risk for deaths due to accidents, infec tions, and sudden infant death syndrome. The higher sociodemographic d isadvantage and poorer prenatal care of multiparas did not explain the excess infant mortality risk that was concentrated in causes of death that are potentially preventable through primary care and parent educ ation.