County’s infant death rate on the rise

By Staff
Leada Gore, Hartselle Enquirer
Morgan County joined the rest of the state in posting disturbing numbers in the latest statistics involving infant mortality.
According to the Alabama Department of Public Health, there were 9.5 deaths for every 1,000 live births in Morgan County in 2005. That figure is up from 9.3 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2004 and 5.5 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2003.
The 2005 figure represents 15 deaths. There were 14 deaths in 2004 and eight in 2003.
The increase in infant mortality was seen statewide.
Alabama’s infant mortality rate of 9.3 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2005 showed an increase from the rates from the past three years. Alabama recorded 561 infant deaths in the year. In 2004, there were 516 infant deaths in the state.
The 2005 infant mortality rate in the state was 14.4 deaths per 1,000 live births for black infants; 8.4 for Hispanic infants; and 7.2 for white infants.
The percent of births to teens was 13.1 percent, a record low in the past decade. The percent of births to young teens, those less than 18 years old, was a record low 4.4 in 2005.
The percent of low weight births (babies weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces) in Alabama, however, increased to 10.7, the highest rate in the past 10 years. Officials said this contributed to the higher figures, as low-birth weight babies have a higher infant mortality rate (61.4) than normal weight births (2.8). Half of the state’s increased infant mortality was reported among the smallest infants, those born weighing less than one pound, 12 ounces.