Synonyms

• Acquired immune deficiency syndrome, AIDS, alcohol, amniocentesis, anemia, anencephaly, antenatal, Apgar Scale, asphyxia, baby, bacteria, birth, Brazelton Scale, breastfeeding, calcium, child, childbirth, chorionic villus sampling, chromosome, colostrum, congenital, CVS, death, defects, diarrhea, diet, diphtheria, Down syndrome, drugs, exercise, fetal, fluoride, folate, folic acid, healthcare, heart, hepatitis, HIV, human immunodeficiency virus, hygiene, immunization, infant gestation, influenza, malaria, malnutrition, maternal, measles, Medicaid, mortality, mumps, neonatal, neural tube, nutrition, offspring, omega-3 fatty acids, omphalocele, perinatal, pertussis, pneumonia, polio, postnatal, pregnancy, premature, prenatal, preterm, race, rubella, sexually transmitted diseases, SCHIP, SIDS, spina bifida, State Children's Health Insurance Program, STDs, stillborn, sudden infant death syndrome, syphilis, testing, tetanus, UNICEF, United Nations Children's Fund, vaccinations, vitamin B.

Background

• The terminology used to describe different stages of life varies among national and international government agencies, countries, states, hospitals, and research institutions. This lack of standardization makes comparison of infant mortality data, or the number of infant deaths, difficult. Also, multiple terms may be used in reference to the same stage in life.
• Although these definitions may vary, most organizations use the term "infant" to describe a human that is between one month and one year old. Neonates are one day to one month old. Gestation is the period of time that a fetus is developing in the mother's womb. The duration of gestation period in humans is about nine months. Live birth is the birth of an offspring with the ability to move its muscles, breathe on its own, and whose heart is beating. The offspring is also called live born.
• The most common definition of neonatal death refers to the death of a baby in the first four weeks of life. Early neonatal death occurs within the first seven days. Infant death is the death of a baby after the neonatal period and up to one year of age. Late neonatal death occurs between seven and 28 days of life. Post-neonatal death occurs between 29 days and one year of life. Child death usually refers to the death of a child between one year and five years of age.
• The most common definition of the perinatal period begins at 154 days of gestation of the fetus and ends seven days after birth. Perinatal mortality is a measure of fetal deaths and the deaths of babies within the first week of life. The most common definition of fetal death or stillbirth is a death that occurs at any time during the pregnancy, and occurs when the baby dies before birth.
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Technique

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Theory/Evidence

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Health Impact/Safety

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Future Research or Applications

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Author Information

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Bibliography

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