Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The sudden and unexpected death of a healthy child who is younger than one year old, usually during sleep. The cause of SIDS is not known. Also called sudden infant death syndrome and crib death. (SIDS)

The United States has made substantial improvements in infant mortality, but disparities still exist. In 2003, the infant mortality rate for African American infants was more than twice the rate for non-Hispanic White infants (13.6 deaths per 1,000 live births for African Americans vs. 5.7 for non-Hispanic Whites). In American Indian and Alaska Native populations, the death rate is 52 percent higher than in non-Hispanic Whites. American Indian/Alaska Natives Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) mortality rate is 2.2 times the SIDS mortality rate for non-Hispanic Whites. Although the infant mortality rate for Hispanic infants is the same as the rate for non-Hispanic White infants, within the Puerto Rican subgroup, the infant mortality rate was 41% higher than non-Hispanic Whites.

Quick Facts

African American mothers were 2.6 times as likely as non-Hispanic white mothers to begin prenatal care in the 3rd trimester, or not receive prenatal care at all.
American Indian/Alaska Natives have 1.5 times the infant mortality rate as non-Hispanic whites.
Puerto Rican infants were 2.1 times as likely to die from causes related to low birth weight, compared to non-Hispanic white infants.
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