U.S. Infant Deaths Rise for First Time in Decades

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, June 25, 2024 -- For the first time in two decades, the infant mortality rate in the United States has risen, new government data shows.

In a report released Thursday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers found that more than 20,500 babies died in 2022 before the age of 1. Overall, there were 5.6 infant deaths for every 1,000 live births, a 3% increase from the year before.

“Infant health is one of the most important public health indicators that we have,” Amanda Jean Stevenson, a demographer and assistant professor of sociology at the University of Colorado Boulder, told CNN.

“The fact that [infant mortality rates] are not continuing to decrease is a very big deal. Even flat infant mortality rates are not good," she added. "We need to see these numbers going down -- and fast -- because they are far too high.”

In the United States, infant mortality had been generally trending down since at least 1995, but rates are still much higher in this country than they are in many other developed nations.

Why are more infants dying?

The leading causes of infant mortality stayed the same between 2021 and 2022: Congenital malformations led to nearly 1 in 5 deaths. Another 14% was caused by disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight, followed by sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), unintentional injuries and maternal complications.

But the rate of infant deaths from maternal complications jumped 9% between 2021 and 2022, from about 30 infant deaths for every 100,000 live births to more than 33 per 100,000 live births. None of the other leading causes of infant death increased significantly, the report found.

Infant health is tied tightly to maternal health, and the United States has struggled for years with high rates of death among women during pregnancy, childbirth or postpartum, CNN reported.

COVID may have also played a role in the rise in infant mortality in 2022, Stevenson added. Infections in pregnant women during major surges in 2021 could have affected infants born in 2022.

Last year, a large study found that pregnant women who got COVID were nearly four times more likely to be admitted to an intensive care unit than those who weren’t infected. They were also 15 times more likely to be ventilated and seven times more likely to die.

Not only that, but they faced higher risks of preeclampsia, blood clots and problems caused by high blood pressure. Meanwhile, babies born to moms who had COVID were at higher risk of preterm birth and low birth weights.

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

Further complicating the reproductive health landscape, the U.S. Supreme Court revoked the federal right to an abortion in June 2022.

Research published last month drew connections between infant mortality and abortion restrictions, finding that infant deaths spiked in Texas after the state passed a law in September 2021 that banned nearly all abortions beyond about six weeks of pregnancy.

Among the 14 states that have passed near-total bans on abortion since the Supreme Court ruling, all but two had an higher-than-average infant mortality rate in 2022, CNN reported.

Sources

  • National Vital Statistics Report, June 25, 2024
  • CNN

    • Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

    Source: HealthDay

    Posted : 2024-07-25 21:15

    Read more

    Disclaimer

    Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

    The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

    Popular Keywords