Union County Public Health Profile Report
Neonatal Mortality Rate: Deaths per 1,000 Live Births, 2015-2019
Union 2.995% Confidence Interval (2.4 - 3.5)Description of the Confidence IntervalThe confidence interval indicates the range of probable true values for the level of risk in the community.
A value of "NA" (Not Available) will appear if the confidence interval was not published with the NJSHAD indicator data for this measure.State 3.0U.S. NA NA=Data not available.Union Compared to State
Description of GaugeDescription of the Gauge
This graphic is based on the county data to the left. It compares the county value of this indicator to the state overall value.- Excellent = The county's value on this indicator is BETTER than the state value, and the difference IS statistically significant.
- Watch = The county's value is BETTER than state value, but the difference IS NOT statistically significant.
- Improvement Needed = The county's value on this indicator is WORSE than the state value, but the difference IS NOT statistically significant.
- Reason for Concern = The county's value on this indicator is WORSE than the state value, and the difference IS statistically significant.
The county value is considered statistically significantly different from the state value if the state value is outside the range of the county's 95% confidence interval. If the county's data or 95% confidence interval information is not available, a blank gauge image will be displayed with the message, "missing information."NOTE: The labels used on the gauge graphic are meant to describe the county's status in plain language. The placement of the gauge needle is based solely on the statistical difference between the county and state values. When selecting priority health issues to work on, a county should take into account additional factors such as how much improvement could be made, the U.S. value, the statistical stability of the county number, the severity of the health condition, and whether the difference is clinically significant.
Why Is This Important?
Neonatal mortality is an important indicator of newborn and maternal health status and medical care (pre- and post-delivery).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 1.7 to 3.1 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.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 infants and mothers in New Jersey, six maternal and child health agencies across the state were awarded $4.3 million in grant funding in July, 2018, as part of the Department of Health's "[https://nj.gov/health/news/2018/approved/20180711a.shtml Healthy Women, Healthy Families]" initiative. In addition to these funds, the Department devoted $450,000 to implement a doula pilot program in municipalities with high Black infant mortality rates. [https://nj.gov/governor/admin/fl/nurturenj.shtml Nurture NJ] is a multifaceted initiative to eliminate racial disparities in birth outcomes.Healthy People Objective MICH-1.4:
Neonatal deaths (within the first 28 days of life)U.S. Target: 4.1 neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births
Related Indicators
Health Care System Factors:
Risk Factors:
- Multiple Births
- Preterm Births
- Anencephaly
- Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
- Tetralogy of Fallot
- Transposition of the Great Arteries
- Low Birth Weight
- Tobacco Use During Pregnancy
Health Status Outcomes:
Note
** The number of deaths is too small to calculate a reliable rate.Data Sources
Birth Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health Linked Infant Death-Birth Database, Center for Health Statistics, New Jersey Department of HealthMeasure Description for Neonatal Mortality Rate
Definition: Rate of death occurring before 28 days of age in a given year per 1,000 live births in the same year
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.
Numerator: Number of resident deaths occurring under 28 days of age in a given year
Denominator: Number of live births to resident mothers in the same year
