Abstract

PIP: 3 different methods of time series analysis were carried out to determine if there is a continuing inverse relationship between economic growth rates and trends in infant mortality. Comparisons were made between short and intermediate fluctuations in trends of infant mortality and in the economy. It was determined that significant changes in the trends in perinatal, neonatal, and postneonatal, and maternal mortality occur in the U.S. because of environmental change associated with economic fluctuations. It is concluded that economic instability has probably been responsible for the apparent lack of continuity in the decline in infant mortality rates since 1950.