Infant Mortality in the United States and Its Correlation to Healthcare Access

Abstract

Introduction: Infant Mortality is a continuing problem in the United States of America. Multiple different factors play a contributing role in the risk of experiencing infant mortality. Infant mortality has been found to have a strong correlation with race and socioeconomic status. Objective: The objective of this research is to look at the different demographics that increase risk of infant mortality and see if there is a specific factor that is contributing to the United States having such a high infant mortality rate. Methods: A literature review was conducted for this undergraduate scholarly research project. Multiple different studies and their results were analyzed, in turn tying them together to compare, show correlation, and form a conclusion. Conclusion: In conclusion, there is no one demographic that is the leading contributor to high infant mortality rates in the United States. Demographics that were researched included race, location, socioeconomic status, and the labor and delivery aspect of a pregnancy. It was concluded that no singular demographic was the leading contributor to infant mortality. Rather, it was found that all of these demographics are connected, and it is a larger systemic issue.