The 2017-2019 Louisiana Child Death Review Report is Now Available!

The 2017-2019 Louisiana Child Death Review (CDR) Report is now available! The CDR Report compiles key findings from data collected over a three year period, including the top causes of infant and child death (broken down by age groups), comparisons between Louisiana rates and national averages, and racial disparities in infant and child mortality rates. The 2017-2019 report also includes data on trends in infant and child mortality over time. CDR report data primarily comes from Louisiana Vital Records and Statistics and findings from state and local Child Death Review panels, which review the circumstances that contribute to infant and child deaths in Louisiana.

Key findings include:

• From 2017-2019, Louisiana ranked in the top ten states with the highest mortality rates for infants and children in almost all age groups.
• About one third of all infant (i.e. less than 1 year of age) and child (i.e. ages 1-14 years) deaths in Louisiana are due to injury, and these are potentially preventable.
• Nearly half (43%) of infant deaths were due to conditions originating in the perinatal period, which include low birthweight and premature birth. These conditions are closely linked to maternal health before conception and during pregnancy.
• Infant mortality due to injury has remained consistent in the United States as a whole but has steadily increased in Louisiana over the past 10 years.
• Exactly half (50%) of all child deaths were due to injury. Motor vehicle crashes, homicide, and drowning are the leading causes of death for children ages 1 through 14 years.
• During 2017-19, injury prevention programs have gained traction. While rates of child mortality due to injury have not yet decreased, there are promising prevention strategies on the horizon.
• Black infants and children are at greater risk of dying than their white peers. As compared to white infants and children, Black infants were 2.2 times as likely to die, and Black children were 1.6 times as likely to die.

In addition to data and statistics, the report provides evidence-based prevention recommendations focused on both the general population and children and youth with special health needs. An overview of what the Office of Public Health, Bureau of Family Health and partner organizations are doing to prevent infant and child deaths around the state shows how Louisiana is working to transform many of those recommendations into actions.

The CDR report is designed to help public health organizations, medical and social service providers, government agencies and policy makers make data informed decisions related to the health and safety of infants, and children.

Read the report, then share it with your partners! You can find CDR Reports in the Partners for Family Health Data Center and Report Library.