The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) recently released data for 2023, showing an increase in infant mortality rates from the previous year and the highest rate since 2016.
ADPH data showed an infant mortality rate of 7.8 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023, up from 6.7 in 2022, the year of Alabama's lowest-ever infant mortality rate. Of the 57,835 live births in 2023, 449 infants did not make it to their first birthday. The Alabama rate is significantly higher than the national provisional rate of 5.6.
The ADPH also listed racial disparities in infant mortality, which State Health Officer Scott Harris heftily bemoaned. The rate for white infants rose to 5.7 (229 infant deaths), up from 4.3 in 2022. The rate for black infants increased to 13.0 (204 infant deaths), up from 12.4 in 2022.
"Many factors contribute to infant mortality, including race, poverty, educational levels and access," Harris said. "It is discouraging that racial disparities remain in birth outcomes, and the black infant mortality rate is twice the rate for white infants. 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."
According to ADPH, the three leading causes of infant deaths in 2023 were:
Congenital malformations, deformations and abnormalities.
Disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight.
Sudden infant death syndrome.
In 2023, the rate of teenagers giving birth tied last year for the lowest-ever record in the state, totaling 3,467 births. However, 2023 also tied 2022 for the highest rate of mothers giving birth without receiving prenatal care in a decade.
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