High rate of infant deaths on Wind River Reservation in Wyoming

Wednesday, January 9, 2013  

Infant death rates are twice as high on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming, according to a state report.

Based on data from 2001 to 2011, about 14 of 1,000 Indian infants died before their first birthday. In comparison, six of 1,000 White infants died.

Indian women are also likely to give birth prematurely, according to the report. Fremont County, where the reservation is located, had the second-highest rate of babies born before 37 weeks, based on data from 2006 to 2011.

The report also said nearly 27 percent of Indian women smoked during pregnancy. In comparison, 19 percent of White women smoked during pregnancy.

The reservation is home to the the Eastern Shoshone Tribe and the Northern Arapaho Tribe.

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Committee addresses high infant death rate on rez (The Riverton Daily Ranger 1/8)