Effects of maternal education, age, and parity on fatal infant accidents.

Accidents are a major cause of death among children. Using computerized linked birth and death record information, this study examined the relationship of selected parental factors to the risk of infant accidental death. The analyses suggest that maternal age and education are inversely related to infant accident mortality while mother's parity is directly related. Accident mortality rate differentials by educational level were more evident for certain categories of accidents.