America's Infant Mortality Rate Increases For The First Time In 20 Years

The U.S. provisional infant mortality rate rose 3% from 2021 to 2022 - the first increase since 2001 to 2002.

Infants in four states - Infant mortality rates increased in Georgia, Iowa, Missouri and Texas.

The rising trend in infant mortality comes amidst already high mortality rates compared to other countries like Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

The 2020 infant mortality rate in the U.S. - 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births - was the highest of all the countries analyzed.

"Women in the U.S. have long had the highest rate of maternal mortality related to complications of pregnancy and childbirth. In 2020, there were nearly 24 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births in the U.S., more than three times the rate in most of the other high-income countries we studied. A high rate of cesarean section, inadequate prenatal care, and socioeconomic inequalities contributing to chronic illnesses like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease may all help explain high U.S. infant and maternal mortality."

Past research published in the journal Human & Experimental Toxicology also showed infant mortality rates correlated with childhood vaccination rates, with high-uptake countries having higher child mortality.

To address rising infant mortality rates in the U.S., experts recommend ensuring that all pregnant women have access to comprehensive prenatal care to help identify and manage health conditions that may lead to infant mortality. 

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2024/04/joseph-mercola/americas-infant-mortality-rate-increases-for-the-first-time-in-20-years/