Alabama’s infant mortality rate decreased to 6.58 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022, continuing a downward trend even as the national rate increased. However, significant racial disparities persist, with Black infant mortality in the state nearly three times higher than white infant mortality.
Dr. Wes Stubblefield, district medical officer at the Alabama Department of Public Health, noted, “We have had some improvement, although disparities persist.” The state’s Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Program is among initiatives addressing these disparities.
Despite overall progress, the Black infant mortality rate in Alabama increased to 12.4 per 1,000 live births in 2022, up from 11 in 2018. In contrast, the white infant mortality rate reached an all-time low of 4.3 per 1,000. Black infants account for 28% of births but 51.4% of deaths in the state.
The Black Belt region faces particularly high infant mortality rates, with Perry County recording 20.4 deaths per 1,000 live births. Many counties in this area lack obstetrics services or obstetricians.
Aretha Dix, a rural health care strategist, emphasized the need for partnerships between healthcare providers and rural communities to improve maternal health. She highlighted challenges such as transportation barriers and limited prenatal care access in maternity care deserts.
While Alabama’s overall infant mortality rate has improved, the widening racial gap and persistent regional disparities underscore the need for targeted interventions to ensure equitable health outcomes for all infants in the state.
See “Racial Disparities Persist as Alabama Infant Mortality Rate Drops” (July 31, 2024)
