Yorkshire’s infant death rate defies national trend

There were 3,077 deaths in 2010 among babies under one, down four per cent on the previous 12 months, and a dramatic fall from 7,899 fatalities in 1980.

The infant mortality rate of 4.3 deaths per 1,000 live births was the lowest ever recorded – nearly three times lower than the rate of 12 deaths per 1,000 live births three decades earlier.

Death rates were lowest among babies of mothers aged 30-34 and highest among mothers aged 40 and over.

There were more deaths among babies born at very low weights, which is caused by a number of factors among them smoking by women during pregnancy.

In Yorkshire, 345 babies died in their first year, with 5.2 deaths recorded per 1,000 live births – only the West Midlands recorded a slightly higher rate.

Rates of stillbirths in the region were the highest in the country at 5.5 per 1,000 births alongside similar levels in London, with national rates remaining among the highest in Europe.

Experts put overall improvements down to better general health of mothers and babies and enhanced midwifery and neonatal intensive care.