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Between 1991 and 1998, one out of every seven infant deaths in the province was a Status Indian child. In total, there were 274 Status Indian infant deaths in this eight-year period, for an infant mortality rate of 11.3 infant deaths for every 1,000 live births in this population. This was more than twice the infant mortality rate for other British Columbians, 5.0 deaths per 1,000 live births. While both populations experienced similar mortality patterns for newborns in the neonatal period (up to 27 days after birth), the Status Indian population had a higher mortality rate in the post-neonatal period, 28 to 364 days after birth. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) was the cause of death for 104 of the 178 Status Indian infants who died in the post-neonatal period.Infant mortality has improved in the province in last eight years, particularly in the Status Indian population. The annual number of Status Indian infant deaths decreased from 44 deaths in 1991 to 14 in 1998, resulting in a dramatic decline in the infant mortality rate from 14.5 to 4.6 per 1,000 live births over the same period. In comparison, the infant mortality rate among all other B.C residents declined from 5.8 to 4.0 over the eight-year period.
Source: Analysis of Status Indians in British Columbia, 1991-1998; available on the Agency website http://www.vs.gov.bc.ca/stats/.
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