| standardised mortality ratio | The ratio of the number of events observed in a population to the number that would be expected if the population had the same distribution as a standard or reference population. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| neonatal mortality rate | The number of children dying under 28 days of age divided by the number of live births that year. The neonatal mortality rate in the united states, which was 8.4 per 1,000 live births in 1980, declined to 5.8 per 1,000 live births in 1990. (12 Dec 1998) |
| type II mortality | <epidemiology> A mortality schedule in which all hosts are assumed to die at a constant rate. This constant rate is equal to the inverse of the life expectancy. (05 Dec 1998) |
| type I mortality | <epidemiology> A mortality schedule in which all hosts are assumed to live for a fixed number of years equal to the life expectancy. (05 Dec 1998) |
| foetal mortality rate | <epidemiology> The ratio of foetal deaths divided by the sum of the births (the live births + the foetal deaths) in that year. In the United States, the foetal mortality rate plummeted from 19.2 per 1,000 births in 1950 to 9.2 per 1,000 births in 1980. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Bayley Scales of Infant Development | A psychological test used to measure the developmental progress of infants over the first two and one-half years of life; consists of three scales: mental, motor, and behaviour record. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Cattell Infant Intelligence Scale | A standardised scale for assessment of the cognitive development of infants between the ages of 3 and 30 months. (05 Mar 2000) |
| postmature infant | A baby born 1 week (7 days) or more after the usual 9 months (280 days) of gestation. (12 Dec 1998) |
| post-term infant | A baby born 2 weeks (14 days) or more after the usual 9 months (280 days) of gestation, as calculated from the last menstrual period (lmp). This is an important calculation, since, if delivery is delayed 3 weeks beyond term, the infant mortality rate skyrockets to 3 times normal. (12 Dec 1998) |
| preterm infant | An infant with gestational age of less than 37 completed weeks (259 completed days). (05 Mar 2000) |
| stillborn infant | An infant who shows no evidence of life after birth. Compare: liveborn infant. (05 Mar 2000) |
| sudden infant death | The abrupt and unexplained death of an apparently healthy infant under one year of age, remaining unexplained after a thorough case investigation, including performance of a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and review of the clinical history. (expert panel of the national institute of child health and human development in paediatric pathology, v.11, no.5, sept-oct 1991, p681) (12 Dec 1998) |
| sudden infant death syndrome | <syndrome> May affect infants of any age, but some risk factors have been identified: term infants who have had a life-threatening period of apnoea (not breathing), premature infants of low birth weight, siblings of infants who have succumbed to sudden infant death syndrome and infants of substance abusing mothers. Peak age is at 2.5 months and 4 months, but can range from 1 month to 1 year. High risk infants should have home monitoring done. It is recommended that the less than 4 month old infant should sleep on their back. Synonym: cot death syndrome. Incidence: 2 per 1,000 live births. Acronym: SIDS (27 Sep 1997) |
| incubators, infant | Apparatus for maintaining a premature infant in an environment of proper temperature and humidity. (12 Dec 1998) |
| infant | The child up to 24 months of age. The word infant is from the latin meaning not speaking. (12 Dec 1998) |