Neonatal and Infant Mortality in Korea, Japan, and the U.S.: Effect of Birth Weight Distribution and Birth Weight-Specific Mortality Rates.
10.3346/jkms.2016.31.9.1450
- Author:
Do Hyun KIM
1
;
Jihyun JEON
;
Chang Gi PARK
;
Sudhir SRIRAM
;
Kwang Sun LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Infant Mortality;
Birth Weight;
Korea;
Japan;
the United States
- MeSH:
Asian Continental Ancestry Group;
Birth Weight*;
Humans;
Infant;
Infant Mortality*;
Infant*;
Infant, Very Low Birth Weight;
Japan*;
Korea*;
Live Birth;
Mortality*;
Parturition*
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2016;31(9):1450-1454
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Difference in crude neonatal and infant mortality rates (NMR and IMR) among different countries is due to the differences in its two determinants: birth weight distribution (BWD) and birth weight-specific mortality rates (BW-SMRs). We aimed to determine impact of BWD and BW-SMRs on differences in crude NMR and IMR among Korea, Japan, and the U.S. Our study used the live birth data of the period 2009 through 2010. Crude NMR/IMR are the lowest in Japan, 1.1/2.1, compared to 1.8/3.2, in Korea, and 4.1/6.2, in the U.S., respectively. Japanese had the best BW-SMRs of all birth weight groups compared to the Koreans and the U.S. The U.S. BWD was unfavorable with very low birth weight (< 1,500 g) rate of 1.4%, compared to 0.6% in Korea, and 0.8% in Japan. If Koreans and Japanese had the same BWD as in the U.S., their crude NMR/IMR would be 3.9/6.1 for the Koreans and 1.5/2.5 for the Japanese. If both Koreans and Japanese had the same BW-SMRs as in the U.S., the crude NMR/IMR would be 2.0/3.8 for the Koreans and 2.7/5.0 for the Japanese. In conclusion, compared to the U.S., lower crude NMR or IMR in Japan is mainly attributable to its better BW-SMRs. Koreans had lower crude NMR and IMR, primarily from its favorable BWD. Comparing crude NMR or IMR among different countries should include further exploration of its two determinants, BW-SMRs reflecting medical care, and BWD reflecting socio-demographic conditions.
