ASPHYXIA-RELATED INFANT-MORTALITY RAPES

We present an epidemiological study of asphyxia-related infant mortali ty. Via linkage of birth and death certificates, infant mortality data were analyzed for all infants born in Israel from 1985 through 1988. During this period, there were 397,083 live births in Israel, and 4392 infants subsequently died within the first year of life (total infant death rate of 11.1/1000 live births). Of the deaths, 176 (4.0%) were associated with a diagnosis of perinatal asphyxia, resulting in an ove rall asphyxia-related infant mortality rate of 0.44/1000 live births. The percent of deaths attributable to asphyxia was calculated by birth weight, maternal age, and birth order and was compared with overall in fant mortality rates analyzed for the same variables. Interesting resu lts include the following: (1) Asphyxia-related mortality within the l ow birthweight group was proportional to overall birthweight-specific mortality for that group; (2) birthweight more than 4.5 kg disproporti onately increased the risk of asphyxia-related mortality; and (3) peri natal asphyxia did not add to the risk of mortality subsequent to teen age pregnancy.