Improved Infant Mortality Rates in a Population Served by a Comprehensive Neighborhood Health Program

The Denver Department of Health and Hospitals developed from multiple federal grants (M and I, C and Y, OEO, PHS, and Family Planning) a comprehensive community health program for the low income population of Denver. To measure the impact of this program, infant mortality rates were reviewed in the low income and nonwhite populations. Infant mortality in 25 selected low income census tracts in Denver was 34.2 per thousand live births in 1964. This decreased to 24.5 by 1968. Infant mortality of nonwhites in Denver was 41.9 in 1964 and decreased to 25.2 by 1968. This decrease in infant mortality rates in both of these populations compares very favorably with such data from other cities.