Indicator Gauge Icon Legend
Legend Colors
Red is bad, green is good, blue is not statistically different/neutral.
Compared to Distribution
the value is in the best half of communities.
the value is in the 2nd worst quarter of communities.
the value is in the worst quarter of communities.
Compared to Target
meets target;
does not meet target.
Compared to a Single Value
lower than the comparison value;
higher than the comparison value;
not statistically different from comparison value.
Trend
non-significant change over time;
significant change over time;
no change over time.
Compared to Prior Value
higher than the previous measurement period;
lower than the previous measurement period;
no statistically different change from previous measurement period.
Significantly better than the overall value
Significantly worse than the overall value
No significant difference with the overall value
No data on significance available
Infant Mortality Rate
This indicator is archived and is no longer being updated. Click to learn more
Why is this important?
Infant mortality is the death of an infant before their first birthday. The infant mortality rate is the number of infant deaths for every 1,000 live births. In addition to giving us key information about maternal and infant health, the infant mortality rate is an important marker of the overall health of a society. The leading causes of death among infants are birth defects, preterm delivery, low birth weight, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), injuries, and pregnancy complications (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
Considerations for Equitable Approaches: The infant mortality rate in the United States is higher than in other high-income countries. Within the U.S. there are disparities by race/ethnicity, income, and geographic location (Healthy People 2030). Black/African American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native infants have much higher mortality rates than White and Asian infants (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Equitable, high-quality health care for pregnant people and babies and community-based interventions can help reduce the rate of infant deaths. Addressing social determinants of health is also critical for reducing these disparities (Healthy People 2030).
The Healthy People 2030 national health target is to reduce the rate of infant deaths to 5.0 deaths per 1,000 live births.Measurement period: 2018-2022
Maintained by: Conduent Healthy Communities Institute
Last update: May 2024
Graph Selections
Data Source
- Mississippi State Department of Health
Maintained By: Conduent Healthy Communities Institute (Methodology)
Filed under: Health / Maternal, Fetal & Infant Health, Health / Mortality Data, Health Outcomes, Infants