MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - The infant mortality rate in Alabama increased in 2023 from the previous year, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health.
ADPH says the infant mortality rate of 7.8 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 increased from the state's 2022 rate of 6.7, which was Alabama's lowest overall infant mortality rate ever.
The latest numbers represent the deaths of 449 infants of the 57,835 live births in 2023 who did not reach 1 year of age.
Alabama's infant mortality rate remains higher than the United States provisional rate of 5.6.
Among racial groups, the infant mortality rate for Black infants increased to 13.0 (204 infant deaths) from 12.4 in 2022, and the rate for white infants rose to 5.7 (229 infant deaths) from 4.3 in 2022.
ADPH data shows the three leading causes of infant deaths in 2023 were:
"Many factors contribute to infant mortality, including race, poverty, educational levels, and access. It is discouraging that racial disparities remain in birth outcomes, and the Black infant mortality rate is twice the rate for white infants," State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said. "A possible reason is limited access to prenatal care and the proximity of hospitals to where these mothers live. Challenges to improve the health of all mothers and babies continue. There is no easy solution; we must follow evidence-based practices to save lives."
The state health department says the 2023 rate is the highest single-year rate since 2016 when it was 9.1.
Other pregnancy and birth statistics released by state health officials Thursday include: