Racial differences in birthweight-specific neonatal mortality in Alaska: 1987-1996.
OBJECTIVE
This study compared the neonatal mortality in the Alaska Native and non-native (primarily white) population in Alaska for a 10-year period (1987-1996).


METHODS
Natality, mortality, and cause of death data were obtained from the State of Alaska's Bureau of Vital Statistics (BVS). Birthweight-specific and preventable birthweight-specific mortality were analyzed for babies < 1500 grams, 1500-2499 grams, and > or = 2500 grams birthweight.


RESULTS
The low birthweight (LBW) and very low birthweight (VLBW) rates were similar for the Alaska Native and non-native populations. The neonatal mortality rate for the Alaska Native population was higher than for the non-native population (6.4 per 1,000 live births for Alaska Native vs. 4.1 for non-native for 1987-1991; 5.5 for Alaska Native vs. 3.5 for non-native for 1992-1996). Birthweight-specific mortality was higher in the Alaska Native population for all birthweight groups. The exclusion of non-preventable conditions accentuated the differences in mortality rates between the Alaska Native and non-native population for infants < 2500 grams birthweight.


CONCLUSIONS
The higher neonatal mortality in the Alaska Native population is associated with a higher overall and preventable birthweight-specific neonatal mortality. The differences are therefore likely to reflect differences in access to and quality of perinatal care.
Alaska Neonatology Associates, 3340 Providence Dr., Suite 366, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA. jjacob@alaska.net
J
J
Jacob
S
S
Hulman
R F
RF
Davis
D000413:Alaska / Q000453:epidemiology; D001724:Birth Weight; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D004930:Inuit / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*