MOBILE, Ala. -- Alabama’s infant mortality rate of 8.6 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2013 is lower than the 8.9 rate recorded in 2012, the Alabama Department of Public Health announced Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014. In 2013, there were 58,182 live births in Alabama and the infant mortality rate represents the deaths of 500 of these infants who did not reach their first birthday.
"Alabama's infant mortality rate has trended downward since 2007," Gov. Robert Bentley said in a news release. "Lowering the rate is a critical part of our efforts to improve public health in Alabama. We are encouraged by today's news, and we will work to continue efforts to reduce infant mortality in Alabama."
In Mobile County, 54 infants died before their first birthday, at a rate of 9.7, in 2013. That figure represents an improvement from 2012 when 60 Mobile County infants died before their first birthday, at a rate of 10.9, health data shows.
Tony Bondora, who studies infant deaths in Mobile County, noted several factors associated with the issue here. “Obesity is over represented in all of our infant fetal deaths. The average age of the mother who lost an infant also is increasing,” he said. “The average age is now 28, as compared to an average age of 24 just three years ago.”
About 60 percent of infant deaths in Mobile County are to African American mothers, Bondora said. “Receiving quality prenatal care is still a problem with about 20 percent of the mothers in this population. And low birth weights and preterm births continue to be the number one risk factor for an infant death in Mobile County.”
While disparities in pregnancy outcomes by race persist statewide, the 2013 infant mortality rate for black infants statewide was at its lowest level ever, 12.6. In contrast, the infant mortality rate for white infants increased from 6.6 in 2012 to 6.9 in 2013.
The percent of births to teenagers in 2013 in Alabama was the lowest ever recorded, 9.3 percent, (5,420 births) and the percent of births to teens less than 18 years of age was also a record low, 2.6 percent (1,524 births). Infant mortality among babies of teen mothers was higher (12.5 per thousand live births) than among adult mothers (8.2). The infant mortality rates among teens and adults by race are as follows: white teens, 8.8; black teens, 18.6; white adults, 6.7, black adults, 11.8.
Research indicates that babies born before 37 weeks of gestation face a higher risk of health problems. The percent of births at less than 37 weeks in Alabama has been trending down steadily to 11.8 percent of all live births in 2013. This compares to 13.4 percent in 2005.
“Alabama hospitals and the medical community have worked diligently to decrease elective early term deliveries at 37 and 38 weeks gestation which helps produce better birth outcomes,” said Dr. Donald Williamson, state health officer. “Other factors that improve our infant mortality rate include increased levels of prenatal care and better family planning with the advent of long-acting reversible contraceptives.”
Low birth weight infants, defined as those weighing less than 2,500 grams (5 pounds, 8 ounces) were almost 20 times more likely to die than infants of normal weight. Ten percent of births in 2013 were of low weight.
The lifestyle of the mother, such as smoking, has an impact on the unborn child. The percent of women smoking during pregnancy increased slightly from 10.7 percent in 2012 to 10.8 percent in 2013. The infant mortality rate of mothers who did not smoke was 7.9; for smokers the rate was 13.2.
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