America’s infant mortality rate has risen for the first time in more than two decades, increasing significantly in southern and midwestern states.
Deaths among infants across the country increased from 19,928 in 2021 to 20,538 in 2022, representing a three percent rise, according to provisional figures from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
Overall, the all-cause infant mortality rate of babies also increased by the same amount during this time, rising from 5.44 infant deaths per 1,000 births to 5.6 infant deaths per 1,000 births — the first year-over-year increase in the rate since 2001 to 2002.
Rates of infant deaths increased the most among babies between 28 days and one year of life — rising four percent in 2022 from 2021. For babies younger than 28 days, the infant mortality rate rose three percent year-over-year.
Among the top causes of death, congenital malformations — birth defects that develop in utero during pregnancy — remained the top cause from 2021 to 2022.
The above map shows states by whether their infant mortality rate rose or fell in 2022 compared to the previous year
Infant deaths have risen for the first time in more than two decades, provisional data shows (Stock image)
While healthcare experts are still speculating about the rise, some say lack of access to and quality of maternal care, the fallout from Covid-19 and the stress it put on the healthcare system and the overturning of Roe vs. Wade all factored into the rise.
One study found infant mortality due to birth defects increased in Texas by 22 percent after the state enacted an abortion ban after a fetal heartbeat is detected, usually around six weeks, forcing women to carry nonviable pregnancies to term.
There are also concerns that a shortage of doctors and nurses could be behind the figures. Earlier this year, America’s nursing body warned of a ‘crisis of huge proportions’ after 100,000 nurses quit and others went on strike — demanding better pay and working conditions.
A report from St Georges University, in New York, has also warned there could be a shortage of up to 124,000 physicians across the US by 2034.
Pediatricians slammed the figures as ‘shockingly high’, adding that any infant death was ‘one too many’.
But statisticians said the data could be a ‘weird blip’ for one year and they will need to analyze next year’s data to determine if there is a trend, which could signal a serious healthcare crisis in America.
Among other causes of death, those from sepsis, a life-threatening reaction to an infection in the body, saw the sharpest rise, up by 14 percent, followed by those from respiratory problems, up 11 percent and maternal complications, up nine percent.
Dr Sandy Chung, the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), told CNN: ‘We live in a country with significant resources, so the infant mortality rate nad the increase are shockingly high.
‘As pediatricians who help children grow into healthy adults, any death of any child is one too many.
‘The infant mortality rate in this country is unacceptable.’
Dr Elizabeth Cherot, the president of March of Dimes — a non-profit focused on the health of mothers and infants — said: ‘It’s disappointing to see such a significant increase in infant deaths after the country has witnessed a steady decline over the last 10 years.
‘We’re disheartened to see that we’re now trending in the wrong direction.’
Danielle Ely, a health statistician at the NCHS, said although the increase seemed small it was the first statistically significant rise since 2001 and 2002.
She added that researchers were not certain whether this was a statistical blip or the start of a concerning trend.
Infant mortality — which measures how many infants die before they reach their first birthday — in the US has been trending downward since the 1990s, official figures show.
It was initially falling by about three percent per year, but over the last decade the rate of decrease has slowed to below one percent. From 2020 to 2021, the rate remained unchanged at 5.4 infant deaths per 1,000 births.
In numbers, there were 610 more infant deaths in 2022 compared to 2021. But Georgia had 116 more infant deaths while Texas had 251 more.
A total of 31 states saw a rise in infant mortality rates, but only four had statistically significant increases — Georgia (up 13 percent), Iowa (up 30 percent), Missouri (up 16 percent) and Texas (up eight percent).
Dr Eric Eichenwald, a neonatologist in Philadelphia, called the new data ‘disturbing’ and said it may be linked to a rebound in RSV and flu infections.
‘That could potentially account for some of it,’ Dr Eichenwald said, who also chairs the AAP’s committee that writes guidelines on the medical care for newborns.
The above shows the top ten leading causes of infant deaths and whether they have risen or fallen in 2022 (light blue) compared to 2021 (dark blue)
The above graph shows the infant mortality rate by ethnic group in 2021 (blue) and 2022 (green)
The above shows the infant mortality rate by neonatal stage, within the first 28 days of life, and within the postneonatal stage, from 28 days to one year of life
There have also previously been suggestions that abortion restrictions could be behind the rise.
For Texas, the state passed a law in September 2021 banning an abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected — which typically occurs around six weeks — forcing women to carry nonviable pregnancies.
From 2021 to 2022, the state’s infant mortality rate then rose by eight percent with 2,228 fatalities recorded.
Dr Erika Werner, chair of obstetrics at Tufts Medical Center, said previously: ‘We all knew the infant mortality rate would go up, because many of these terminations were for pregnancies that don’t turn into healthy normal kids.
‘It’s exactly what we all were concerned about.’
The U.S. has higher infant and maternal mortality rates than many other wealthy nations — including Canada, Germany, Australia and Japan
