Alabama’s infant mortality rate last year reached its highest level since 2008, led by a rising rate for white mothers, according to a report released by the Alabama Department of Public Health. 

Alabama’s infant mortality rate — based on number of babies that don’t reach age 1  —is 9.1 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, or 537 babies total, which is among the country’s worst.

Locally, seven babies died in Cullman County in 2016, up from 3 in 2015 and the same number in 2014 for a total of 17 over the three-year period. That’s an infant mortality rate of 7.0, 2.9 and 7.2 for 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively.

Between 2007-2013, 48 infants died in Cullman County — 65 total over nearly a decade, state statistics show.

“Our infant mortality rate is troubling and disheartening and trending in the wrong direction,” said acting State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris. “Challenges include ensuring mothers have access to health care before, during, and after pregnancy, reducing premature births, the opioid epidemic, and addressing persistent racial disparities.”

The mortality rate for black infants remains consistently higher than that of white, and in 2016, it was more than twice that of white infants. The 2016 black mortality rate was 15.1 per 1,000, a slight decrease from the 2015 rate of 15.3.

While white mothers have a lower infant mortality rate, that number is increasing, from a record low of 5.2 in 2015 to 6.5 in 2016.

According to the ADPH, the top three leading causes of infant death are congenital malformation, premature births, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Harris said some of the strategies they plan to implement to reduce those numbers include reducing tobacco use among women of childbearing age, encouraging women to wait at least 18 months between giving birth and becoming pregnant again and continuing safe sleep education efforts.

The percent of preterm births — those born before 37 weeks gestation — increased in 2016 as well, from 11.7 percent to 12 percent, while the percent of low birth weight infants in 2016 declined slightly from 10.4 in 2015 to 10.3.

On a positive note, as seen nationally, the percent of birth to teenagers in Alabama continues to trend downward to its lowest ever recorded of 7.7 percent in 2016.

Tiffeny Owens can be reached at 256-734-2131, ext. 135.