IN Department of Health celebrates decrease in infant mortality rate
IDOH says according to provisional data, the 2024 infant mortality rate (IMR) in Indiana is 6.3 deaths per 1,000 live births, which is a decrease from 6.6 in 2023. Officials say if this IMR remains the same when finalized, it would be the lowest rate of infant deaths in Indiana since 1900. The previous lowest rate for infant mortality was 6.5 deaths per 1,000 births in 2019.
'With Indiana's infant mortality rate at its lowest in over a century, we see the real impact of everyone who is focused on protecting our most vulnerable Hoosiers,' said Gov. Mike Braun. 'We are committed to ensuring that even more babies have a healthy start and a strong future.'
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IDOH says infant mortality is the death of a child before his or her first birthday and is measured by the number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births. Several factors contribute to infant mortality, many of which are directly tied to the health of the mother. Conditions such as maternal stress, obesity, smoking during pregnancy and delayed prenatal care can increase the risk of poor health outcomes. 'We are ecstatic that more Hoosier babies are celebrating their first birthdays,' said State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver, MD, FACEP. 'Seeing these efforts pay off is something to celebrate, and we are grateful to clinicians, healthcare centers and affiliates, local health departments and all our other partners for their collective efforts.' The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) has set the Healthy People 2030 goal of a nationwide infant mortality rate of 5.0 deaths per 1,000 births. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most current rate of infant mortality in the United States was 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023. 'The critical work to further reduce infant mortality continues,' Dr. Weaver said. 'The Indiana Department of Health is committed to our role to decrease the number of infant deaths in Indiana and give the next generation of Hoosiers the best possible start.'
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IDOH says it has multiple initiatives focused on improving infant mortality including:
Reviewing data to ensure that moms and babies have the opportunities to receive care at the best facility to meet their risk factors prior to delivery
Checking hospital discharge data to identify specific 'opportunities for improvement' in maternal and neonatal care practices
Working with a number of community-based programs through Health First Indiana
Supporting services, including home visiting, breastfeeding programs and infant safe sleep education
Conducting comprehensive reviews of fetal and infant deaths to identify opportunities for interventions
Partnering with birthing facilities to be prepared for potentially challenging health outcomes through Levels of Care
People can find more information about programs and resources available to families here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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