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Complete Health Indicator Report of 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

Why Is This Important?

Neonatal mortality is an important indicator of newborn and maternal health status and medical care (pre- and post-delivery).

Healthy People Objective: Neonatal deaths (within the first 28 days of life)

U.S. Target: 4.1 neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births

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 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.

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.

Health Program Information

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


Related Indicators

Related Health Care System Factors Indicators:


Related Risk Factors Indicators:


Related Health Status Outcomes Indicators:



Data Tables


Neonatal Mortality Rate by Year, New Jersey and the United States, 2000-2020

US/NJYearDeaths per 1,000 Live BirthsLower LimitUpper LimitNumer- ator
Record Count: 42
US20004.618,733
US20014.518,275
US20024.718,791
US20034.618,935
US20044.518,602
US20054.518,782
US20064.519,041
US20074.419,094
US20084.318,238
US20094.217,261
US20104.016,193
US20114.116,065
US20124.015,887
US20134.015,893
US20143.915,737
US20153.915,672
US20163.915,303
US20173.914,844
US20183.814,328
US20193.713,834
US20203.612,866
NJ20004.33.94.7499
NJ20014.33.94.7498
NJ20024.13.74.5470
NJ20034.13.74.4477
NJ20044.03.64.4456
NJ20053.43.13.8388
NJ20063.73.44.1429
NJ20073.43.03.7388
NJ20083.43.03.7380
NJ20093.63.24.0395
NJ20103.53.13.8370
NJ20113.43.03.8359
NJ20123.22.83.5329
NJ20133.22.93.6333
NJ20143.02.73.4310
NJ20153.33.03.6337
NJ20162.92.63.2297
NJ20173.22.83.5319
NJ20182.62.33.0267
NJ20192.82.53.2282
NJ20202.72.43.0261

Data Notes

Confidence limits are not available for the U.S. data.

Data Sources

  • Birth Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Linked Birth/Infant Death Records, CDC WONDER On-line Database accessed at [http://wonder.cdc.gov/lbd.html]
  • Linked Infant Death-Birth Database, Center for Health Statistics, New Jersey Department of Health


Neonatal Mortality Rate by Mother's Race/Ethnicity, New Jersey, 2000-2020

Race/EthnicityYearDeaths per 1,000 Live BirthsLower LimitUpper LimitNumer- ator
Record Count: 84
White20002.82.43.2173
White20012.92.53.3178
White20022.52.12.9147
White20032.62.23.0153
White20042.62.23.0148
White20052.11.72.5118
White20062.82.33.2151
White20072.31.92.7121
White20082.52.02.9125
White20092.42.02.8118
White20101.81.42.288
White20112.31.92.7111
White20122.31.92.8109
White20131.91.52.389
White20142.01.62.493
White20152.01.62.493
White20161.51.11.866
White20171.81.42.283
White20181.51.21.969
White20191.91.52.382
White20201.61.32.071
Black20008.97.510.2166
Black20018.47.09.7153
Black20029.07.610.4158
Black20037.86.59.1134
Black20047.76.49.0127
Black20057.76.49.0126
Black20067.05.88.3120
Black20076.85.58.0117
Black20087.66.38.9128
Black20098.06.79.4132
Black20108.36.99.7132
Black20116.55.37.8102
Black20126.04.87.294
Black20137.05.78.4106
Black20145.14.06.376
Black20156.35.07.689
Black20166.55.27.989
Black20176.04.77.381
Black20185.64.46.977
Black20194.83.66.063
Black20205.24.06.566
Hispanic20004.03.14.887
Hispanic20014.03.24.892
Hispanic20024.23.45.1103
Hispanic20033.93.14.6101
Hispanic20043.73.04.499
Hispanic20053.12.53.886
Hispanic20063.93.24.6111
Hispanic20073.52.84.2103
Hispanic20083.02.33.685
Hispanic20093.02.43.685
Hispanic20103.12.53.887
Hispanic20113.02.43.785
Hispanic20122.92.33.580
Hispanic20132.82.23.577
Hispanic20143.22.63.988
Hispanic20153.42.74.195
Hispanic20163.02.33.682
Hispanic20173.62.94.499
Hispanic20183.02.33.681
Hispanic20192.82.23.578
Hispanic20202.51.93.168
Asian2000**15
Asian2001**15
Asian20022.11.23.020
Asian20033.82.65.038
Asian20042.71.73.727
Asian20053.02.04.131
Asian20062.61.63.527
Asian2007**17
Asian2008**15
Asian20091.91.02.720
Asian20103.12.14.136
Asian20113.02.04.035
Asian20122.81.93.834
Asian20132.51.63.428
Asian2014**16
Asian2015**13
Asian20161.91.12.723
Asian20172.31.43.227
Asian2018**17
Asian20192.21.33.124
Asian2020**18

Data Notes

Data for White, Black, and Asian do not include Hispanics. Hispanic ethnicity includes persons of any race. **The number of deaths among Asians was too small to calculate a reliable rate in some years.

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 Health


Neonatal Mortality Rate by Mother's Race/Ethnicity, New Jersey, 2018-2020

Race/EthnicityDeaths per 1,000 Live BirthsLower LimitUpper Limit
Record Count: 6
White1.71.51.9
Black5.24.56.0
Hispanic2.82.43.1
Asian1.81.42.3
New Jersey2.72.52.9
United States3.7

Data Notes

Data for White, Black, and Asian do not include Hispanics. Hispanic ethnicity includes persons of any race. Confidence limits are not available for the U.S. data.

Data Sources

  • Birth Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Linked Birth/Infant Death Records, CDC WONDER On-line Database accessed at [http://wonder.cdc.gov/lbd.html]
  • Linked Infant Death-Birth Database, Center for Health Statistics, New Jersey Department of Health


Neonatal Mortality Distribution of Leading Causes, New Jersey, 2016-2020

Cause of DeathPercentage of Neonatal Deaths
Record Count: 7
Bacterial Sepsis4.2%
Congenital Anomalies18.8%
Maternal Complications of This Pregnancy7.6%
Placenta, Cord, and Membrane Complications5.1%
Respiratory Distress4.7%
Short Gestation/LBW21.0%
Other Causes38.5%

Data Source

Linked Infant Death-Birth Database, Center for Health Statistics, New Jersey Department of Health


Neonatal Mortality Rate by Leading Causes of Death, New Jersey, 2000-2004 and 2016-2020

5 Year GroupsCause of DeathDeaths per 1,000 Live BirthsLower LimitUpper Limit
Record Count: 10
2000-2004Congenital Anomalies0.690.620.76
2000-2004Maternal Complications of This Pregnancy0.290.250.33
2000-2004Placenta, Cord, and Membrane Complications0.200.160.23
2000-2004Respiratory Distress0.320.270.36
2000-2004Short Gestation/LBW1.131.041.22
2016-2020Congenital Anomalies0.530.470.60
2016-2020Maternal Complications of This Pregnancy0.220.180.26
2016-2020Placenta, Cord, and Membrane Complications0.150.110.18
2016-2020Respiratory Distress0.130.100.17
2016-2020Short Gestation/LBW0.600.530.67

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 Health


Neonatal Mortality Rate by County of Residence, New Jersey, 2016-2020

CountyDeaths per 1,000 Live BirthsLower LimitUpper Limit
Record Count: 23
Atlantic4.33.25.4
Bergen2.11.72.5
Burlington3.42.64.1
Camden4.43.75.2
Cape May**
Cumberland4.73.36.1
Essex3.53.04.0
Gloucester3.42.54.4
Hudson2.01.62.3
Hunterdon**
Mercer3.72.84.5
Middlesex2.72.23.2
Monmouth2.21.62.7
Morris2.31.72.9
Ocean2.11.62.5
Passaic2.62.03.1
Salem**
Somerset3.02.23.9
Sussex**
Union2.52.03.1
Warren4.72.76.7
New Jersey2.82.73.0
United States3.8

Data Notes

** 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 Health

References and Community Resources

The NJSHAD [https://www-doh.state.nj.us/doh-shad/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.

Page Content Updated On 08/16/2023, Published on 08/16/2023
Center for Health Statistics, New Jersey Department of Health, PO Box 360, Trenton, NJ 08625-0360, Web: www.nj.gov/health/chs, e-mail: chs@doh.nj.gov
The information provided above is from the Department of Health's NJSHAD web site (https://nj.gov/health/shad). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: " Retrieved Thu, 25 April 2024 3:31:41 from Department of Health, New Jersey State Health Assessment Data Web site: https://nj.gov/health/shad ".

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