Why the US infant mortality rate has risen for the first time in 20 years

Concerns over the health of moms and their infants are serious in the United States as the infant mortality rate increased significantly for the first time in two decades. According to data from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the infant mortality rate increased by three per cent between 2021 and 2022 to reach 5.6 infant deaths per 1,000 births. This rate, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, is twice that of many developing nations. But, why is it happening? Let’s take a look. “Too many babies are dying” The report, which was released on Wednesday, states that while the post-neonatal death rate — which refers to infants who survive for more than 28 days — rose by four per cent, the mortality rate for neonatal infants increased by three per cent. The number of babies that pass away before they turn one year old is known as infant mortality. For a more accurate comparison of infant mortality across time, researchers calculated rates rather than the total number of births in the US, which fluctuates annually. In 2022, the national rate increased from 5.44 infant deaths per 1,000 live births to 5.6 infant deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2022, there were more than 20,500 newborn fatalities in the US, 610 more than the previous year on a national level. According to the NCHS study, mothers between the ages of 25 and 29 would have a higher infant death rate in 2022. With the exception of Asian women, data indicated rises in this rate among almost all ethnic groups. The only statistically significant increases were seen in the infant mortality rates of American Indian/Alaskan Native women and white women. The rate of newborn deaths per 1,000 American Indian/Alaskan Native women climbed to 9.06 in 2022 from 7.46 in 2021. The rate increased to 9.06 for white women from 4.36 per 1,000. State-wise analysis of the data revealed that the newborn mortality rate decreased in Nevada but increased significantly in Georgia, Iowa, Missouri, and Texas in 2022 compared to 2021. This latest surge is the first of its kind since 2001–2002. The infant mortality rate in the nation has been declining for the last fifty years, having dropped significantly from 26 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1960. While there have been occasional shifts in past years, none of them have attained statistical significance. The reason Bacterial infections and pregnancy-related complications have been identified as the causes, reported News18. Infancy fatalities from maternal problems, such as premature birth or eclampsia, and bacterial sepsis increased by eight per cent and 14 per cent, respectively, the report states. Expectant mothers also suffer from economic issues, inadequate maternity care, racial disparities, and other issues. According to a recent survey by Boston Children’s Hospital and ABC News, over 1.7 million women — nearly three per cent of all women in America who are of reproductive age — live in counties where they are unable to get prenatal care or an abortion. Dr Sandy Chung, the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, told CNN, “We know that for people who live in or near poverty and for certain racial and ethnic groups there are significant challenges with getting access to a doctor or getting treatments. This can lead to moms and babies showing up for care when they are sicker and more likely have serious outcomes, even death.” Pregnant women may become more stressed as a result of rising costs for necessities like groceries and petrol, the report added. Dr Rebecca Carlin, assistant professor of paediatrics at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, told the WSJ, “If you’re worrying about putting food on the table for the rest of your family, getting to your prenatal care appointment is probably not going to be your top priority.” Rising concern According to The Guardian, lead author Danielle Ely of the study said that while the increase may appear small, it is the first statistically significant jump in the rate since the increase between 2001 and 2002. “It would appear that some of the states could be having a larger impact on the (national) rate,” Ely said, adding that smaller increases elsewhere also have an effect – and that it’s hard to parse out exactly what places, policies or other factors are behind the national statistic. Researchers were unable to determine if the 2022 increase was a one-year statistical anomaly or the start of a longer-term trend, she continued. “It’s definitely concerning, given that it’s going in the opposite direction from what it has been,” the outlet quoted Marie Thoma, a University of Maryland researcher who studies maternal and infant mortality, as saying. WSJ quoted Dr Elizabeth Cherot, chief executive of the infant and maternal health non-profit March of Dimes, as saying, “We, as a developed country, should be doing some of the basics better.” “Too many babies are dying in the United States.” “In a country as wealthy as ours, no one should have difficulty accessing healthcare. We need to change policies to help lift families out of poverty and help them get access to healthcare sooner, before is it too late,” Chung wrote in a mail to CNN. According to the report, experts advise the US to implement policies from other developed countries, like health workers visiting parents at home, in order to lower the infant death rate. Although the CDC report does not identify particular causes for the rate increase, it does highlight the need for additional research. With inputs from agencies