U.S. Infant Mortality Rate Rises for First Time in 20 Years

New government data has revealed that the infant mortality rate in the United States has increased for the first time in two decades. 

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently reported that over 20,500 babies died in the U.S. before the age of 1. This is a 3% increase from the previous year. In total, there were 5.6 infant deaths for every 1,000 live births. 

An assistant professor of sociology, Amanda Jean Stevenson said that infant health is a crucial measure of public health. It is concerning that infant mortality rates are not decreasing. These rates need to go down quickly because they are currently too high. 

Infant mortality in the United States has been decreasing since 1995. But the rates are still significantly higher as compared to many other developed nations. 

The main reasons for infant deaths are birth defects, problems that are related to premature birth and low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and complications during childbirth. The rate of infant deaths due to complications during childbirth has increased by 9% between 2021 and 2022. COVID may have played an important role in this. But the rates for other causes of infant death have not changed significantly. 

Last year, a study revealed that pregnant women who got COVID in 2021 were more likely to be admitted to intensive care, need ventilation, and even die as compared to those who did not get infected. They also faced higher risks of pre-eclampsia, blood clots, and high blood pressure problems. Babies born to mothers with COVID were at higher risk of being born prematurely and having low birth weights. 

The infant mortality rate was highest among Black infants in 2022, with nearly 11 deaths for every 1,000 live births. The rate among American Indian and Alaska Native infants increased by more than 20% to over 9 deaths for every 1,000 live births. The mortality rate among White infants also increased. But it remained lower than other racial and ethnic groups, with about 4.5 deaths for every 1,000 live births.  

Additionally, the U.S. Supreme Court revoked the federal right to an abortion in June 2022 that further complicates reproductive health landscape. 

A recent study indicates that there is a link between infant mortality and abortion restrictions. This study focused on Texas, where a law was passed in September 2021 that banned most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. After the law was implemented, there was a significant increase in infant deaths in the state. 

CNN reports that all but two of the 14 states that have implemented near-total abortion bans since the Supreme Court ruling had higher infant mortality rates in 2022.