Factors Affecting Postneonatal Mortality

J NFANT MORTALITY in the United States has caused increasing concern in recent years. Since the early 1950's, the decline in infant mortality rates has continued but at a lesser rate than previously (1-3). In a study comparing infant mortality rates of the United States with those of six Western European countries, the United States dropped from fourth position in 1935-50 to sixth in 1962 and to seventh, and last, in 1964 (4). In 1959-61 the United States ranked 10th among the developed countries with an infant mortality rate of 25.9 per 1,000 live births (1). The 1964 rate of 24.8 compares unfavorably to rates of 14.2 to 18.7 for six Scandinavian and Northern European countries.