Kansas Health Institute | Information For Policy Makers. Health for Kansans.

Total deaths among Kansas children fell slightly from the previous year while the infant mortality rate rose, according to the most recent numbers released today by the Kansas Attorney General's Office.

The office reported 502 deaths of Kansans ages 17 and under in 2008, the year that the 2010 annual report covered. That is fewer than the 514 deaths in 2007 but more than the average of 499 deaths per year over the 15 years since the State Child Death Review Board was created.

Most deaths were classified as “Natural, Except Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.”

Those deaths – which include prematurity, congenital malformation, infection and similar causes – numbered 316 in 2008, or 63 percent of total child deaths. Kansas' infant mortality rate is 7.25 deaths per 1,000 live births. That is higher than the national rate, which is 6.22 deaths per 1,000 live births.

The board recommended that state officials take steps to improve maternal health and prenatal care to reduce infant mortality.

The review board found that 19 percent of the mothers whose infants died reported smoking during pregnancy, 2 percent reported use of alcohol, and 16 percent had no prenatal care.

The board made several other recommendations based on trends in the causes of child deaths:

• partner with various public education outlets,
• enact comprehensive laws regarding use of All Terrain Vehicles, or ATVs,
• prohibit unattended children in vehicles,
• change the laws that allow children to drive on a farm permit,
• implement more comprehensive investigations and autopsies for child deaths.

The board classifies child deaths into six categories:

• Natural, Except Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) – 316 deaths
• Natural, SIDS – 49 deaths
• Unintentional Injury – 79 deaths
• Homicide – 26 deaths
• Suicide – 9 deaths
• Undetermined – 23 deaths

The full report is available here.