The US infant mortality rate rose last year. The CDC says it's the largest increase in two decades
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The U.S. infant mortality rate rose 3% last year, which is the largest increase in two decades. A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows significant death rate increases for white and Native American infants, infant boys and babies born at 37 weeks or earlier.

The U.S. infant mortality rate rose 3% last year — the largest increase in two decades, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

White and Native American infants, infant boys and babies born at 37 weeks or earlier had significant death rate increases. The CDC’s report, published Wednesday, also noted larger increases for two of the leading causes of infant deaths — maternal complications and bacterial meningitis.

“It’s definitely concerning, given that it’s going in the opposite direction from what it has been,” said Marie Thoma, a University of Maryland researcher who studies maternal and infant mortality.

  • TWeaKEnglish
    13•8 months ago

    I'd hesitate to jump to conclusions on that. For one, the laws haven't been in effect that long.

    Dr. Eric Eichenwald, a Philadelphia-based neonatologist, called the new data “disturbing,” but said experts at this point can only speculate as to why a statistic that generally has been falling for decades rose sharply in 2022.

    However later on:

    More than 30 states saw at least slight rises in infant mortality rates in 2022, but four states had statistically significant increases — Georgia, Iowa, Missouri and Texas.

    It should be noted that, while each of these states have been trying to implement abortion bans, Iowa's ban down to 6 weeks is on hold indefinitely, so it is still legal up to 20 weeks there.

    • @Pips@lemmy.sdf.org
      11•8 months ago

      They should look into the effects of social pressures that are related to the abortion bans as well.

      • TWeaKEnglish
        3•8 months ago

        Yeah, it's the classic "more study is needed" caveat.

    • @massacre@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2•8 months ago

      Rural hospital closures are on the rise across the country as declining populations and seeking higher profits push for consolidation nation-wide. It's more impactful rurally, though. And for those states that have or are implementing abortion bans, they are hemorrhaging OB/GYN practitioners who want to move to states with crystal clear female and neonatal care laws that are a bit less "career ending". E.g. last I read there were only a handful of doctors in Idaho and women were seeking care in Washington where most of the doctors had moved.