Rising Infant Death Rates in the South

Morning Edition today aired the piece, Mississippi Grapples with Rise in Infant Death Rates, which discusses how infant mortality rates have dropped nationwide, but are rising in some areas, especially Southern states. Mississippi reportedly had the largest increase in babies dying in their first year of life, with Washington, D.C., Louisiana, Tennessee, and South Carolina joining the state in being the five with the highest infant mortality rates in the U.S. – Delaware, Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas, and North Carolina round out the bottom of the “top ten.”

Read the rest of the story for discussion of the infant mortality rates and possible causes, such as lack of access to health care; audio is expected to be available by 9am Eastern.