The infant mortality rate is the number of live born nfant deaths (364 days or younger) per 1,000 live births in a population per year. It is a standard indicator of population health because it reflects the health status of women and infants as well as access to medical care, socioeconomic conditions and public health practices. In Canada, infant mortality has decreased steadily from 1979 (10.9 infant deaths per 1,000 live births) to 2012 (4.8 deaths per 1,000 live births).
Similar to the national trend, the Simcoe Muskoka and Ontario infant mortality rates have both decreased since 1986. For 1986 to 1988 the infant mortality rates for Simcoe Muskoka and Ontario were 7.8 (6.3, 9.5) deaths per 1,000 live births and 6.7 (6.5, 7.0) deaths per 1,000 live births, respectively. In comparison, the 2010 to 2012 rates for Simcoe Muskoka and Ontario were 5.1 (4.0, 6.4) deaths per 1,000 live births and 4.8 (4.6, 5.0) deaths per 1,000 live births, respectively. The most commonly identified causes of death in infants were related to low birth weight and immaturity and other conditions of the perinatal period, followed by congenital anomalies.
Neonatal mortality (27 days or younger) rates are low in Simcoe Muskoka and Ontario, with an average of fewer than 20 neonatal deaths each year in Simcoe Muskoka from 1986-2012. Provincial neonatal mortality rates have decreased significantly from 4.4 (4.2, 4.6) deaths per 1,000 live births in 1986 to 1988, to 3.7 (3.5, 3.9) in 2010 to 2012. No significant change was observed in Simcoe Muskoka, with rates of 4.9 (3.7, 6.3) deaths per 1,000 live births in 1986 to 1988 and 4.3 (3.3, 5.5) deaths per 1,000 live births in 2010 to 2012.
