Risk factors associated with infant death:
(1) birth weight < 2,500 grams (odds ratio 13.9 if < 1,500 grams; 3.0 if 1,500 - 2,499)
(2) Apgar score at 5 minutes <= 7 (odds ratio 4.5)
(3) live birth order = older siblings (odds ratio about 2 for 1 or 2 older siblings; 6.3 for 4 or more)
(4) mother's age < 25 years of age (odds ratio 3.7 to 4.4 if < 20; 2.5 if 20 - 24)
(5) mother's education <= 11 years (odds ratio 1.9)
(6) mother unmarried
(7) tobacco use during pregnancy (odds ratio 1.6)
where:
• The risk factors correlate with lower socioeconomic status, problems with health coverage, and more crowded living conditions.
• I would think a mother who smoked during pregnancy is probably smoking around the children.
For the implementation I made a quick score, with 1 point if the odds ratio was 1.6 to 2.5, 2 points if 2.6 to 4.5, 3 points if 6.3 and 6 points if 13.9. This approach needs to be validated.
