Infant mortality in coroner/medical examiner investigations. 2016

Laura M Seske, and William C Ralston, and Louis J Muglia, and James M Greenberg
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Division of Neonatology and Pulmonary Biology, Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, 3333 Burnet Ave, ML 7009, Cincinnati, OH 45219, United States. Electronic address: Laura.seske@gmail.com.

Infant mortality rate is generally regarded as a fundamental indicator of population health and is often used to validate public health interventions. Hamilton County, Ohio, has one of the highest rates in the nation. Most deaths that do not occur in the hospital fall under the jurisdiction of a coroner/medical examiner. We reviewed all infant deaths evaluated by the Hamilton County Coroner from 2006 to 2013 in order to identify opportunities for public health interventions. We predicted that the majority of these infant deaths were unintentional, but preventable. The eligible population included live born infants, who died less than one year of age. There were 217 cases of infant deaths during this time frame and 14 primary causes of death identified in this cohort. Sleep related deaths made up the majority of deaths (n = 141, 65%), a mean of 17.6 per year. This analysis identifies unsafe sleep patterns, particularly co-bedding and inappropriate sleep surface, as the most frequent contributing factors. Therefore, the coroner/medical examiner, working with public health and healthcare providers can generate information to drive targeted improvements in the outcome for infants.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007223 Infant A child between 1 and 23 months of age. Infants
D007226 Infant Mortality Postnatal deaths from BIRTH to 365 days after birth in a given population. Postneonatal mortality represents deaths between 28 days and 365 days after birth (as defined by National Center for Health Statistics). Neonatal mortality represents deaths from birth to 27 days after birth. Neonatal Mortality,Mortality, Infant,Postneonatal Mortality,Infant Mortalities,Mortalities, Infant,Mortalities, Neonatal,Mortalities, Postneonatal,Mortality, Neonatal,Mortality, Postneonatal,Neonatal Mortalities,Postneonatal Mortalities
D007231 Infant, Newborn An infant during the first 28 days after birth. Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D008297 Male Males
D009820 Ohio State bounded on the north by Michigan and Lake Erie, on the east by Ohio River and Pennsylvania, on the south by Ohio River, and on the west by Indiana.
D002423 Cause of Death Factors which produce cessation of all vital bodily functions. They can be analyzed from an epidemiologic viewpoint. Causes of Death,Death Cause,Death Causes
D003334 Coroners and Medical Examiners Physicians appointed to investigate all cases of sudden or violent death. Medical Examiners,Coroners,Examiner, Medical,Examiners, Medical,Medical Examiner,Medical Examiners and Coroners,Coroner
D005260 Female Females
D005554 Forensic Medicine The application of medical knowledge to questions of law. Legal Medicine,Medicine, Forensic,Medicine, Legal
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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