The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) has released its 2024 infant mortality report, showing a modest improvement in statewide outcomes while underscoring persistent racial disparities and challenges in prenatal care. The infant mortality rate dropped to 7.1 deaths per 1,000 live births, down from 7.8 in 2023, marking a step forward in the state's ongoing efforts to improve maternal and infant health.
Out of 57,909 live births in Alabama in 2024, 414 infants died before reaching their first birthday. While the decline is encouraging, Alabama's rate remains significantly higher than the provisional national average of 5.5 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Racial Disparities in Infant Mortality
The report highlights a continued gap in outcomes between racial groups:
- White infants: Mortality rate decreased from 5.7 in 2023 to 5.4 in 2024 (222 deaths).
- Black infants: Mortality rate decreased from 13.1 in 2023 to 11.8 in 2024 (176 deaths).
Despite the improvement, Black infants in Alabama continue to die at more than twice the rate of white infants-a disparity that State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris attributes to systemic factors. "Many factors contribute to infant mortality, including race, poverty, education, housing, nutrition, and access to care," Harris said. "Maternal health conditions such as diabetes and hypertension are linked to higher preterm births. We are hopeful that by following evidence-based practices, we will save lives."
Alabama's lowest recorded infant mortality rate was 6.7 in 2022.
Leading Causes of Infant Death
Three conditions accounted for 42.5% of all infant deaths in 2024:
- Congenital malformations and abnormalities: 21.5%
- Disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight: 15.9%
- Bacterial sepsis of newborns: 5.1%
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) dropped in ranking from third in 2023 (6.5%) to fifth in 2024 (3.4%), while unintentional injuries rose to fourth place at 4.1%.
Teen Births and Maternal Health Trends
The number of births to teenagers (ages 10–19) reached a historic low in 2024:
- Total births to teens: 3,336
- Percentage of total births: 5.8%
Additionally, the percentage of mothers who smoked during pregnancy fell to 3.3%, the lowest level in over a decade.
Other key statistics:
- Low birth weight births: 10.2% (down from 10.5% in 2023)
- Medicaid coverage: 42% of births; 55% of infant deaths occurred among Medicaid-covered deliveries
- Private insurance: Covered 51% of births; 35% of infant deaths
- Adequate prenatal care: Declined from 74.7% in 2023 to 73.9% in 2024
- No prenatal care: Increased from 2.6% to 3.1%
ADPH Programs Targeting Infant Mortality
To address these challenges, ADPH continues to expand programs aimed at improving maternal and infant health:
- Telehealth prenatal care: Available in rural counties for low-risk women through 36 weeks of pregnancy.
- Well Woman Program: Offers preconception, interconception, and postconception care in 11 counties.
- ALL Babies: Provides statewide coverage for uninsured pregnant women who meet income guidelines.
- Fetal Infant Mortality Review Program: Nurses at five major hospitals review fetal and infant deaths, presenting cases to regional committees for prevention strategies.
Safe Sleep and Public Awareness Campaigns
To combat sleep-related deaths, ADPH has launched several initiatives:
- Cribs for Kids: Provided 4,000 cribs over four years to families lacking safe sleep environments.
- Clear the Crib Challenge: A social media campaign promoting safe sleep practices-alone, back, crib.
- Count the Kicks app: Helps mothers track fetal movement to detect potential complications.
Additional efforts include education on sexually transmitted diseases, car seat safety promotion, and expanded participation in the WIC nutrition program for pregnant women and young children.
Looking Ahead
While the decline in infant mortality is a positive sign, ADPH officials stress that more work is needed to close racial gaps and improve access to care. The department continues to prioritize evidence-based interventions and community partnerships to support healthier pregnancies and safer infant outcomes.
Detailed charts and graphs from the 2024 report are available at the ADPH website: Infant Mortality Statistics
Brandon, if you'd like a printable outreach version or a breakdown tailored for St. Clair County or rural Alabama stakeholders, I can format that next.
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