Why Is This Important?

Mortality during the neonatal period accounts for a large proportion of child deaths, and is considered to be a useful indicator of maternal and newborn neonatal health and care.[https://www.who.int/data/gho/indicator-metadata-registry/imr-details/67 ^1^]

Definition

Neonatal mortality is the death of an infant before 28 days of age. The neonatal mortality rate is the number of neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births. Infant mortality is death within the first year of life. It is divided into two components: death before the 28th day of life is neonatal mortality; death between 28 days and one year is postneonatal mortality.

Data Sources

• Birth Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health
  (https://www.nj.gov/health/vital/)
• Linked Infant Death-Birth Database, Center for Health Statistics, New Jersey Department of Health
  (https://www.nj.gov/health/chs/)
• Linked Birth/Infant Death Records, CDC WONDER On-line Database, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  (https://wonder.cdc.gov/lbd.html)

How the Measure is Calculated

How Are We Doing?

Two-thirds of infant deaths occur in the neonatal period. The neonatal mortality rate in New Jersey has been decreasing, yet disparities exist across the state and by maternal and infant characteristics. The rate among children of Black mothers is 2 to 3 times that of other racial/ethnic groups and most of the counties with high neonatal mortality rates are in South Jersey. The leading causes of neonatal mortality are the same as those among all infants: short gestation (prematurity)/low birth weight and congenital anomalies. These two causes account for about 40% of neonatal deaths.

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

The neonatal mortality rate among New Jersey residents is below that of the nation as a whole.

What Is Being Done?

The [http://www.nj.gov/health/fhs/ Division of Family Health Services] in the New Jersey Department of Health administers several programs aimed at improving children's health, including reducing infant mortality. In an effort to improve health outcomes among Black and Hispanic infants and mothers in New Jersey, three maternal and child health agencies across the state were awarded $3.5 million in grant funding in July, 2023, as part of the Department of Health's [https://www.nj.gov/health/news/2023/approved/20230710a.shtml Healthy Women, Healthy Families] initiative. [https://nj.gov/governor/admin/fl/nurturenj.shtml Nurture NJ] is a multifaceted initiative to eliminate racial disparities in birth outcomes.

Available Services

The Division of Family Health Services (FHS) provides support for pregnant women and newborns through several programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Program for [http://www.nj.gov/health/fhs/wic/ Women, Infants and Children] (WIC). Perinatal Mood Disorders (e.g., postpartum depression) Helpline: 1-800-328-3838 or [http://www.nj.gov/health/fhs/maternalchild/mentalhealth/getting-help/] The [https://www.nj.gov/health/fhs/maternalchild/outcomes/index.shtml Healthy Women Healthy Families] (HWHF) Initiative works toward improving maternal and infant health outcomes for women of childbearing age and their families, while reducing racial, ethnic, and economic disparities in those outcomes through a collaborative, coordinated, community-driven approach through the use of Community Health Workers and Central Intake Hubs. [http://njparentlink.nj.gov/ NJ Parent Link], an interdepartmental website, is New Jersey's online Early Childhood, Parenting, and Professional Resource Center offering "one-stop shopping" for State services and resources.

More Resources

The NJSHAD [[a href="query/selection/infantfetal/InfFetSelection.html" Infant Death Data Query]] allows users to create tables, graphs, and maps of New Jersey infant deaths by maternal age, race/ethnicity, birthplace, marital status, education, parity, and substance use during pregnancy; infant age at death, sex, plurality, birthweight, gestational age, Apgar score, prenatal care, method and place of delivery, type of birth attendant, cause of death, and county or municipality of residence for 2000 to the present.

Health Program Information

Maternal and Child Health: [http://www.nj.gov/health/fhs/maternalchild/] WIC: [http://www.nj.gov/health/fhs/wic/]

Footnote References

1. World Health Organization, [https://www.who.int/data/gho/indicator-metadata-registry/imr-details/67 Neonatal mortality rate].