Overview
- The US reported a 3% increase in infant mortality rate last year marking the largest increase in two decades, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Significant spikes in infant mortality rates were reported in four states: Georgia, Iowa, Missouri and Texas.
- The rise in infant mortality rates disproportionately impacted white and Native American infants, along with premature births and due to maternal complications and bacterial meningitis.
- The national rate rose to 5.6 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022, up from 5.44 per 1,000 the previous year.
- Though US infant mortality rate ranks higher in comparison to other developed nations, the cause behind this upward trend has yet to be determined.