MONTGOMERY– Alabama’s infant mortality rate rose to 7.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2025, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. The state recorded 422 deaths before age 1 among 57,192 live births.

The rate increased from 7.1 in 2024. However, ADPH described Alabama’s rate as relatively steady over the past several years.

Meanwhile, the provisional national rate for 2025 was lower, at 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Racial Disparities Continue

The mortality rate for Black infants increased from 11.8 in 2024 to 13.1 in 2025, with 183 deaths. For white infants, the rate also increased, from 5.4 to 5.5, with 229 deaths.

ADPH identified congenital malformations, deformations, and abnormalities as the leading cause of infant deaths. Next were disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight, followed by Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS.

State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said reducing infant mortality remains a challenge. He also cited persistent racial disparities in birth outcomes.

“Lack of access to care, closure of labor and delivery services, poverty, poor nutrition, and chronic disease play significant roles in the health of mothers and infants,” Harris said.

Prenatal Care Improves as Teen Births Reach Historic Lows

Meanwhile, some pregnancy and birth measures improved.

The share of births with adequate prenatal care rose from 73.9% in 2024 to 75.7% in 2025. In addition, births involving no prenatal care declined from 3.1% to 2.8%.

Low-weight births also decreased slightly, from 10.2% to 10.1%.

Births to teenagers ages 10 through 19 reached historic lows across all races. Additionally, teenagers accounted for a record-low 5.4% of births.

Medicaid covered 35% of births, while private insurance covered 56%. Among infant deaths, 49% involved mothers whose deliveries Medicaid covered, compared with 39% whose deliveries private insurance covered.

Programs Address Access to Care and Safe Sleep

To improve rural access, ADPH is working with medical providers on telehealth prenatal visits at county health departments. Those services support low-risk pregnant women through 36 weeks of pregnancy.

The agency also offers its Well Woman Program in 11 counties for fiscal year 2027. It serves women ages 15 through 55 with prevention, early detection, and care before, between, and after pregnancies.

In addition, ALL Babies offers statewide coverage for uninsured pregnant women who meet income requirements.

Nurses with the Fetal Infant Mortality Review Program review most fetal deaths and all infant deaths, according to ADPH. Based in five major delivery hospitals, they also prepare cases for regional committees examining causes and prevention opportunities.

For families without a safe infant sleep space, Cribs for Kids provides cribs at no cost. The program distributed 1,420 pack-and-play cribs during fiscal year 2025.

Meanwhile, ADPH’s Clear the Crib Challenge promotes the ABCs of safe sleep: alone, back, crib. The campaign encourages removing everything except a firm mattress, fitted sheet, and the baby.

Other efforts include the Count the Kicks app, sexually transmitted disease education, car seat safety, and WIC nutrition support. WIC serves eligible pregnant and breastfeeding women, women within six months after delivery, infants, and children younger than 5.

ADPH has published detailed infant mortality charts and statistics on its website.

STATE NEWS