The Reduction of Infant Mortality in Illinois
2012 Annual Report
The latest infant mortality statistics are for 2009. In that year, Illinois' infant mortality rate was 6.9 deaths for every 1,000 live births. The statistic represents improvement from the 2008 rate of 7.2 deaths per 1,000 live births. Yet, it remains higher than the lowest rate ever reported in Illinois, 6.6/1,000 live births in 2007.
Many factors contribute to the state's infant mortality rate. Medical and pharmacological treatments are available for the conditions that used to take the lives of infants who were born prematurely. Illinois maintains one of the best systems of hospital-based perinatal care services in the nation. Illinois' success in maternal and child health services is due in part to the Department of Human Services' ongoing collaborative efforts with both the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (IDHFS).
Consecutive annual evaluations of infant mortality demonstrate that participation in both the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and the Family Case Management (FCM) program during pregnancy substantially improves infant health. This improvement contributes an estimated annual savings of approximately $200 million in Medicaid expenditures for care required during the first year of life. Additional savings from avoided special education, disability and rehabilitation costs potentially accrue over a lifetime.
