Illinois - Death and Health

In 2000, infant mortality was 8.5 per 1,000 live births. Nationally, Illinois ranked 8th in infant mortality in 2000; the national rate was 6.9. Although the infant mortality rate fell from 21.5 in 1970 to 13.9 in 1981 to 10.7 in 1991, it did not decline as rapidly as elsewhere. Since the late 1960s, Illinois has had a slightly higher infant mortality rate than the rest of the country; the 1993–94 rate was the 5th highest among the states while the 1996 rate ranked 9th highest. The number of legal abortions performed in 1999 was 45,924, down from 72,000 in 1977.

Illinois's death rate, 875.1 per 100,000 residents, was slightly higher than the national rate of 873.1 in 2000. At that time Illinois also ranked above the national averages in deaths due to heart disease and cerebrovascular disease, but below the averages in accidents and adverse effects and suicide. Major public health problems in the 1980s included rapidly increasing rates of venereal disease and drug abuse. Alcoholism has always been a major problem in Illinois. The state also has a high proportion of residents receiving psychiatric care. In 1995, there were 35.3 breast cancer deaths per 100,000 women, 4th-highest among the states. In 2000, 22.3% of the adults 18 years of age and older in Illinois were smokers. The rate of HIV-related deaths stood at 3.9 per 100,000 population, slightly below the national average of 5.3 in 2000. There were 26,319 AIDS cases reported through 2001.

Hospitals abound in Illinois, with Chicago serving as a diagnostic and treatment center for patients throughout the Midwest. With 192 community facilities (many quite large) and 36,834 beds, Illinois hospitals recorded 1,559,357 admissions in 2001. In the same year, total full-time personnel numbered 190,746, including 44,900 full-time registered nurses and 3,339 full-time licensed practical nurses. In 2000, the state had 285 physicians per 100,000 population. The average expense to hospitals for care provided in 2001 was $1,446.50 per inpatient day.

Federal government grants to cover the Medicare and Medicaid services in 2001 totaled $4.4 billion; 1,639,986 enrollees received Medicare benefits that year. At least 13.6% of adult residents had no insurance in 2002.