New childhood mortality data has been posted to the KIDS COUNT Data Center for infants (less than one year old), children (ages 1-14) and teens (ages 15-19).

Kentucky’s infant death rate has remained stable at 7 per 1,000 live births for approximately 15 years now, continuing to closely mirror the national rate. The state child death rate, however, has fallen over the past two decades, from 33 per 100,000 children ages 1-14 during 1990-1992 to 22 per 100,000 during 2007-2009. Despite this progress, Kentucky still has a slightly higher rate of child deaths than the nation as a whole.

Kentucky’s teen death rate is also higher than the national rate, but has experienced dramatic declines. The state teen death rate is at its lowest point in two decades, at 68 deaths per 100,000 teens ages 15-19 during 2007-2009, down from 92 per 100,000 in 1990-1992. The substantial drop in teen deaths can be credited in part to policy changes focused on the leading cause of teen deaths – motor vehicle accidents. During the 2006 legislative session, legislators significantly improved policies for new teen drivers with a strong graduated driver’s licensing law. Those efforts have paid off; in just one year after the law took effect, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet reported a drop of nearly 30 percent in teen deaths due to motor vehicle crashes. This is a prime example of how data-informed policy changes can result in great successes for the kids of the Commonwealth.

KIDS COUNT Data Center

At the KIDS COUNT Data Center you can access the latest available data, as well as historical data back to 1990, for the numbers and rates of infant, child, and teen deaths in Kentucky.

The KIDS COUNT Data Center provides information across states and for Kentucky counties and school districts on many measures of child well-being, including: economic well-being, education, health, and safety. Users can easily rank, map, graph trends over time, and add customized information to their own websites. Users can also view and share data quickly and easily anytime and anywhere with the enhanced mobile site for smart phones.

Looking for more information? Research and recommendations for improving outcomes for the Kentucky KIDS COUNT indicators can be found in the annual Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Books here.