[Causes and risk factors in post-neonatal mortality in France in 1987 according to a national survey].

A stagnation in postneonatal mortality (28 days-1 year) is reported in France as in other similar countries. More than fifty per cent of these deaths are registered under the sudden infant death syndrome, a cause which is classified in the symptoms and ill-defined conditions chapter of the International Classification of Diseases. To establish the actual rate of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) it was necessary to carry out a specific retrospective survey. All postneonatal deaths (3917) registered in France from September 1986 to December 1987 were studied by means of questionnaires sent to the certifying doctor and to the families. The sudden infant death rate is estimated at 1.2 per 1,000 and the risk factors of the total postneonatal deaths are birthweight, prematurity, transfer into neonatal care unit, and age of the mother.