A recent study reveals that Mississippi leads the nation with the highest infant mortality rate, followed by Arkansas and Alabama. The research, conducted by the Birth Injury Lawyers Group, analyzed data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) covering the years 2019 to 2023.
Mississippi recorded an average of 8.85 infant deaths per 1,000 live births during this five-year period. This rate is nearly 57% higher than the national average of 5.62 deaths per 1,000 live births. The state’s highest rate was 9.39 deaths in 2021, and the lowest was 8.12 deaths in 2020.
Arkansas ranked second with an average infant mortality rate of 7.73 deaths per 1,000 live births. This figure is about 37% above the national average. Arkansas’ highest rate occurred in 2021 with 8.59 deaths, while the lowest was 7.00 in 2019.
Alabama took third place, reporting an average of 7.30 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, approximately 30% higher than the national average. The state’s highest rate was 7.71 deaths in 2019, and the lowest was 6.62 in 2022.
Other states with high infant mortality rates include Louisiana (7.34 deaths per 1,000), Ohio (6.98), South Carolina (6.93), South Dakota (6.84), Oklahoma (6.83), North Carolina (6.78), and West Virginia (6.65).
In contrast, Vermont has the lowest infant mortality rate in the country, averaging just 3.37 deaths per 1,000 live births from 2019 to 2023.
A spokesperson for the Birth Injury Lawyers Group emphasized the need for urgent action. “These findings show that states like Mississippi, Arkansas, and Alabama face serious challenges in reducing infant deaths,” they said. “Improving health care access and quality is critical to give every newborn the best start in life.”
The study highlights the importance of targeted health-care interventions and stronger support systems to improve maternal and infant health outcomes in the most affected states.
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