U.S. infant mortality rate rose 3% last year, according to CDC

DORAL, FL – The U.S. infant mortality rate rose 3% last year, according to a report published Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The new data represents the largest increase in two decades.

The national rate rose to 5.6 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022, up from 5.44 per 1,000 the year before, the new report said. The total U.S. infant deaths exceeded 20,500 in 2022, which is 610 more than the year before.

But not all states threw a similar data in infant mortality in 2022 as more than 30 had at least slight rises, while four had statistically significant increases: Georgia, Iowa, Missouri and Texas. Georgia had 116 more infant deaths than the previous year, and Texas, 251 more.

Unfortunately, the report also mentioned the data may indicate the increase is continuing, with quarterly rates in the first quarter of 2023 more elevated than they were around the same time in 2022. 

Regarding whom were most affected, infant mortality rate increase was concentrated the highest in white and Native American infants, infant boys and babies born at 37 weeks or earlier, while maternal complications and bacterial meningitis as cause of death also experienced increases. 

Infant mortality refers to how many babies die before their first birthday. Due to the fact that the number of babies born in the county is not the same year to year, researchers calculate rates to provide a more accurate comparison of infant mortality over time.

Overall, in the U.S., the death rate fell 5% in 2022. The decrease has been said to obey to the waning impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially on people 65 and older. U.S. maternal deaths also fell last year.

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