United States

Infant Mortality Rates Fall 15 Percent in US

The rate at which infants die every year "is considered a basic measure of public health for countries around the world," one researcher said

Fewer babies are dying in the United States than a decade ago, according to NBC News.

The U.S. infant mortality rate, which is higher than in other developed countries, is down 15 percent over the last 10 years, federal researchers reported Tuesday.

"Infant mortality is considered a basic measure of public health for countries around the world," wrote Anne Driscoll and T.J. Mathews of the National Center for Health Statistics, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Researchers pointed to a high teenage pregnancy rate in the U.S. compared to other countries as one of several factors behind the comparatively high rate of babies dying. Teenagers are more likely to have small and premature babies.

Contact Us