Area infant mortality rates cause concern

By Staff
Leada Gore FCT Staff Writer
Franklin 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 12.2 deaths for every 1,000 live births in Franklin County in 2005. That figure is up from five deaths for every 1,000 live births in 2004 and 9.9 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2003.
The 2005 figure represents six deaths. There were two deaths in 2004 and four in 2003.
The increase in infant mortality was seen statewide.
"We do not fully understand these very troubling rates. Infant mortality is heading in the wrong direction, and not for reasons we would usually ascribe, such as teen pregnancy. The babies of adult women are dying, and we will explore the reasons and develop ideas to help lower infant deaths," Dr. Donald Williamson, state health officer, said.
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, 1 ? ounces.