Understanding differences in infant mortality rates across local areas 2 1 2 3 4 5 The variety of local authority characteristics that were associated with infant mortality and the potential intersectionality between them – for example between deprivation and housing conditions, and between deprivation and obesity – highlight the complexity of the pathways that may lead to the death of a child in. [...] In the following examples, consideration needs to be given to how they impact on infant mortality: At a national level: • the development and implementation of housing policies • decisions about local government funding, particularly for the early years • the development and implementation of policies to tackle obesity, and whether they work for women of childbearing age. [...] Understanding differences in infant mortality rates across local areas 3 1 2 3 4 5 1 Introduction What is infant mortality and what are the causes? The death of an infant – defined as the death of a child under the age of one after a live birth – is a truly tragic event. [...] Between 2014 and 2017 there were unprecedented year-on-year increases in the rates of infant mortality and since then they have not returned to the low in 2014.8 The rates of infant mortality across the country in 2021 range from 0 per 1,000 live births in Rutland to 10.1 in Stoke on Trent.8 There are also known socioeconomic and demographic inequalities in infant mortality in England:8,10 • In 20. [...] Housing may also be bad if it is unable to adequately accommodate the number of people inhabiting… The environment in which the housing is located is also important… Security of tenure, the status people attach to housing and the levels of community safety and cohesion in an area are all important features.’ Understanding differences in infant mortality rates across local areas 25 1 2 3 4 5 Housin.