US Infant Mortality Rate Sees Highest Increase in Two Decades; Georgia, Iowa, Missouri and Texas Report Significant Spikes

CDC Report Reveals Disproportionate Impact on White, Native American Infants, and Babies Born Preterm Amid Rise in Mortality Due to Maternal Complications and Bacterial Meningitis

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.