NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 371 ■ July 2020

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Mortality Rate of Infants 

Born to Teen Mothers: United States, 2017–2018

Ashley M. Woodall, M.P.H., and Anne K. Driscoll, Ph.D.

Key findings

Data from the National 

Vital Statistics System

● In 2017–2018, infants of 

teenagers aged 15–19 had the 

highest rate of mortality (8.77 

deaths per 1,000 live births) 

compared with infants of 

women aged 20 and over.

● Mortality rates were highest 

for infants of non-Hispanic 

black teenagers (12.54) 

compared with infants of 

non-Hispanic white (8.43) and 

Hispanic (6.47) teenagers.

● Infants of non-Hispanic 

black teenagers aged 15–19 had 

the highest mortality rates for 

four of the five leading causes 

of death compared with infants 

of non-Hispanic white and 

Hispanic teenagers.

● The mortality rate of infants 

born to non-Hispanic black 

teenagers related to preterm 

birth and low birthweight 

(284.31 deaths per 100,000 live 

births) was more than double 

the rate of infants born to 

non-Hispanic white teenagers 

(119.18) and three times the 

rate of infants born to Hispanic 

teenagers (94.44).

When compared with births among women aged 20 and over, teen pregnancies 

result in higher rates of neonatal and infant mortality, preterm birth, low 

birthweight, and maternal complications (1,2). Despite the declining birth 

rate for teenagers aged 15–19 since 1991, differences continue to occur in the 

mortality of infants born to teenagers by race and ethnicity and cause of death 

(1,3). This report examines 2017–2018 linked birth/infant death data from the 

National Vital Statistics System to describe the recent pattern in racial and 

ethnic differences in mortality and the leading causes of death for infants born 

to teen mothers aged 15–19.

Teenagers aged 15–19 had the highest infant, neonatal, and 

postneonatal mortality rates in 2017–2018.

NCHS reports can be downloaded from: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/index.htm.

Figure 1. Infant mortality rates, by maternal age and infant age at death: United States, 

2017–2018

0 2 4 6 8 10

Neonatal (0–27 days) Postneonatal (28–364 days)

Infant deaths per 1,000 live births

1Significantly higher for mothers aged 15–19 than all other age groups (p < 0.05). 2Significantly lower for mothers aged 30–34 than all other age groups (p < 0.05). 3Significantly lower for mothers aged 30–34 and 35–39 than all other age groups (p < 0.05).

NOTES: Access data table for Figure 1 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db371-tables-508.pdf#1. 

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System, Linked birth/infant death file.

20–24 4.11 2.82 6.93

25–29 3.68 1.88 5.56

30–34 23.33 31.36 24.69

35–39 3.83 31.36 5.19

40 and over 5.08 1.90 6.98

15–19 15.34 13.43 18.77
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● In 2017–2018, mortality rates were highest among infants born to teenagers aged 15–19 

(8.77 infant deaths per 1,000 live births) compared with infants born to women aged 20 and 

over (Figure 1). 

● Neonatal mortality rates (infant deaths within the first 28 days of life) were highest for 

infants born to teenagers (5.34) compared with all older maternal age groups. Infants born 

to teenagers were 1.6 times as likely to die during the neonatal period compared with infants 

born to women aged 30–34 (3.33), who had the lowest neonatal mortality rate. 

● Postneonatal mortality rates (infant deaths from 28 days through 364 days) were highest 

for infants born to teenagers (3.43) compared with the older maternal age groups. The 

postneonatal mortality rate was more than twice as high among teenagers aged 15–19 

as it was among women aged 30–34 and 35–39 (1.36), who had the lowest postneonatal 

mortality rates.

Total infant, neonatal, and postneonatal mortality rates were highest for 

infants born to non-Hispanic black teenagers and lowest for infants born to 

Hispanic teenagers.

● Among infants born to teenagers aged 15–19 in 2017–2018, the mortality rate was highest 

among infants born to non-Hispanic black teenagers (12.54 per 1,000 live births), followed 

by infants born to non-Hispanic white (8.43) and Hispanic (6.47) teenagers (Figure 2). 

Figure 2. Mortality rate of infants born to mothers aged 15–19, by age at death and maternal race and Hispanic origin: 

United States, 2017–2018

1Significantly higher than non-Hispanic white and Hispanic infants (p < 0.05). 2Significantly lower than non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black infants (p < 0.05).

NOTE: Access data table for Figure 2 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db371-tables-508.pdf#2. 

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System, Linked birth/infant death file.

0

Infant deaths per 1,000 live births

3 6 9 12 15

Total infant

8.43

112.54

26.47

Neonatal

(0–27 days)

4.88

17.92

24.08

Postneonatal

 (28–364 days)

3.55

14.63

22.39

White, non-Hispanic

Black, non-Hispanic 

Hispanic 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 371 ■ July 2020

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● Both neonatal and postneonatal mortality rates were highest for infants born to non-Hispanic 

black teenagers (7.92 and 4.63, respectively) and lowest for infants born to Hispanic 

teenagers (4.08 and 2.39).

Disorders related to short gestation and low birthweight was the cause of 

death with the largest racial and ethnic disparities among the five leading 

causes of infant death. 

● In 2017–2018, the five leading causes of death among infants born to teenagers aged 15–19 

were disorders related to short gestation (preterm birth) and low birthweight, congenital 

malformations, unintentional injuries (accidents), sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and 

maternal complications of pregnancy (Figure 3). 

● Infants born to non-Hispanic black teenagers had the highest mortality rates for all five 

leading causes of death except SIDS, which was highest among non-Hispanic white 

teenagers (90.66 per 100,000 live births). 

● Infants born to Hispanic teenagers had the lowest mortality rates for all five leading causes 

of death except maternal complications of pregnancy (35.69 compared with 28.51 among 

non-Hispanic white and 68.18 among non-Hispanic black teenagers). 

Figure 3. Infant mortality rates for the five leading causes of death among infants born to mothers aged 15–19, by 

maternal race and Hispanic origin: United States, 2017–2018

1Significantly higher than non-Hispanic white and Hispanic rates (p < 0.05). 2Significantly lower than non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black rates (p < 0.05). 3Significantly higher than non-Hispanic black and Hispanic rates (p < 0.05). 4Significantly lower than non-Hispanic black and Hispanic rates (p < 0.05).

NOTES: Causes of death are ranked according to number of deaths. Data table for Figure 3 includes number of deaths for leading causes. Access data table for 

Figure 3 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db371-tables-508.pdf#3.

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System, Linked birth/infant death file.

0

Infant deaths per 100,000 live births

50 100 150 200 250 300

Disorders related to short

gestation and low birthweight

119.18 1284.31

294.44

Congenital malformations

141.11

1156.95 2126.42

Unintentional injuries (accidents)

83.35

1105.49 243.87

Sudden infant death

syndrome (SIDS)

390.66

77.19 243.87

Maternal complications

of pregnancy

428.51 168.18

35.69

White, non-Hispanic

Black, non-Hispanic

Hispanic
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 371 ■ July 2020

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● Infants born to non-Hispanic black teenagers were more than twice as likely to die 

from disorders related to preterm birth and low birthweight (284.31) as infants born to 

non-Hispanic white teenagers (119.18) and three times as likely to die as infants born to 

Hispanic teenagers (94.44). 

Summary 

In the United States, infants born to teenagers aged 15–19 were more likely to die within the 

first year of life than infants born to women aged 20 and over in 2017–2018. Historically, infants 

born to non-Hispanic black females of all ages have higher mortality rates compared with infants 

born to mothers in other racial and ethnic groups (4), which is consistent with the findings for 

teenagers aged 15–19 in this analysis. Mortality rates for infants born to non-Hispanic black 

teenagers were higher than those for infants born to non-Hispanic white and Hispanic teenagers 

during both the neonatal and postneonatal periods. 

Among the five leading causes of death, the largest racial and ethnic difference in mortality 

rates was found for preterm- and low birthweight-related causes, where rates were two to three 

times higher for infants of non-Hispanic black teenagers compared with the rates for infants 

of non-Hispanic white and Hispanic teenagers. Moreover, infants born to non-Hispanic black 

teenagers are more likely to be born preterm or at low birthweight compared with infants born to 

non-Hispanic white and Hispanic teenagers (3).
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 371 ■ July 2020

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Definitions

Cause-of-death classification: Medical information—including injury diagnoses and external 

causes of injury—is entered on death certificates filed in the United States and classified and 

coded in accordance with the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related 

Health Problems, 10th Revision (ICD–10) (5). Corresponding abbreviations of infant cause-ofdeath categories and ICD–10 codes presented in this report are:

● Maternal complications: Newborn affected by maternal complications of pregnancy (P01)

● Preterm birth and low birthweight: Disorders related to short gestation and low birthweight, 

not elsewhere classified (P07)

● Congenital malformations: Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal 

abnormalities (Q00–Q99) 

● Sudden infant death syndrome (R95)

● Unintentional injuries: Accidents (unintentional injuries [V01–X59]) 

Infant mortality rate: Number of infant (under age 1 year) deaths per 1,000 live births.

Leading causes of death: Ranked according to the number of deaths assigned to rankable 

causes (5).

Neonatal mortality rate: Number of deaths to infants aged 0–27 days per 1,000 live births.

Postneonatal mortality rate: Number of deaths to infants aged 28–364 days per 1,000 live births.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 371 ■ July 2020

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Data source and methods

This report contains data from the period linked birth/infant death data set, which are collected 

by the National Vital Statistics System (6). The period linked birth/infant death data set includes 

all infant deaths under 1 year of age reported on death certificates and all births reported from 

birth certificates. The period linked birth/infant death data set is the primary data set for analyzing 

infant mortality trends and patterns in the United States, and it is the only source for examining 

race and Hispanic-origin infant mortality and factors related to birth (6,7). Linked birth/infant 

death data sets are available from: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/linked-birth.htm. 

Race and Hispanic origin are self-reported by the mother on the birth certificate. The race and 

Hispanic-origin groups shown in this report follow the 1997 Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity. The 1997 OMB 

standards classify persons into one of the following five racial groups: white, black or African 

American, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific 

Islander. All categories are single race. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected and 

reported separately. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race. Due to the smaller population 

counts and declining birth rates among teenagers aged 15–19, analysis is limited to non-Hispanic 

white, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic groups. 

Infant mortality rates are presented per 1,000 live births, while rates for specific causes of infant 

death are presented per 100,000 live births. Pairwise comparisons between race and Hispanicorigin groups were tested using the z test statistic at the 0.05 level of significance.

About the authors

Ashley M. Woodall is with the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Division of 

Analysis and Epidemiology. Anne K. Driscoll is with NCHS, Division of Vital Statistics.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 371 ■ July 2020

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References

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pregnancies. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 16(5):265–70. 2004.

2. Kawakita T, Wilson K, Grantz KL, Landy HJ, Huang C, Gomez-Lobo V. Adverse maternal 

and neonatal outcomes in adolescent pregnancy. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol 29(2):130–6. 2016. 

3. Martin JA, Hamilton BE, Osterman MJK, Driscoll AK. Births: Final data for 2018. National 

Vital Statistics Reports; vol 68 no 13. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 

2019. 

4. Kochanek KD, Murphy SL, Xu JQ, Arias E. Deaths: Final data for 2017. National Vital 

Statistics Reports; vol 68 no 9. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2019.

5. Heron M. Deaths: Leading causes for 2017. National Vital Statistics Reports; vol 68 no 6. 

Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2019.

6. Mathews TJ, MacDorman MF, Thoma ME. Infant mortality statistics from the 2013 period 

linked birth/infant death data set. National Vital Statistics Reports; vol 64 no 9. Hyattsville, MD: 

National Center for Health Statistics. 2015.

7. Kochanek KD, Murphy SL, Xu JQ, Tejada-Vera B. Deaths: Final data for 2014. National 

Vital Statistics Reports; vol 65 no 4. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2016.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 371 ■ July 2020

Keywords: infant death • racial disparities • maternal age • National Vital 

Statistics System

Suggested citation

Woodall AM, Driscoll AK. Racial and ethnic 

differences in mortality rate of infants born 

to teen mothers: United States, 2017–2018. 

NCHS Data Brief, no 371. Hyattsville, MD: 

National Center for Health Statistics. 2020.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in 

the public domain and may be reproduced 

or copied without permission; citation as to 

source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health 

Statistics

Brian C. Moyer, Ph.D., Director

Amy M. Branum, Ph.D., Acting Associate 

Director for Science

Division of Analysis and Epidemiology

Irma E. Arispe, Ph.D., Director

Kevin C. Heslin, Ph.D., Associate Director for 

Science

Division of Vital Statistics

Steven Schwartz, Ph.D., Director

Isabelle L. Horon, Dr.P.H., Acting Associate 

Director for Science

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