Trends in infant deaths from congenital anomalies: results from England and Wales, Scotland, Sweden and the United States.

Major strides have been made in reducing infant mortality in many parts of the world. As the number of infants dying from infectious diseases has declined, further reductions will require progress in reducing mortality in less tractable causes of death. As a result, the proportion of infant deaths attributable to congenital anomalies has been rising. Mortality due to different types of congenital anomalies is examined for the period 1976-1985 in the United States, England and Wales, Scotland and Sweden.