Infant mortality rate increases in NC in 2012

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina health officials say infant mortality in the state increased for the second year in a row in 2012.

The Department of Health and Human Services released figures this week showing about 7.4 babies out of every 1,000 live births died before their first birthday in the state in 2012.

The state had a record low infant mortality rate of 7 in 2010, and it increased to 7.2 out of every 1,000 births in 2011.

The report finds babies born to African-American mothers are now twice as likely to die than babies born to white mothers.

The report also says the number of babies who died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome dropped from 50 in 2011 to 28 in 2012.

WSOC