Texas Leads in Infant Mortality Rates: Alarming Statistics

Texas Leads in Infant Mortality Rates: New data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released in November shows that Texas had the most baby deaths in the country in 2022. The numbers showed that more than 2,220 babies in the Lone Star State died before their first birthday last year.

Texas Leads in Infant Mortality Rates

Texas lost 1,977 babies in 2021, which is 11.5% more than in 2022. The infant mortality rate went up from 2021 to 2022 in four states: Georgia (892), Iowa (190), and Missouri (497). Texas was one of them. The second most deaths were in California, with 1,713. The third most deaths were in Florida, with 1,275.

The CDC says that the baby mortality rate rose 3% in the U.S. This is the first year-over-year rise in 20 years. The infant mortality rate in the country went down by 22% from 2002 to 2021, according to the statistics. Two of the top 10 reasons of death saw big rises in death rates: complications during pregnancy and bacterial sepsis.

The CDC says that babies of color, American Indian, Hispanic, and Alaska Native descent died at much higher rates than babies of other races. The death rate went up for babies born before their due dates and for boys.

Texas banned abortions after six weeks of pregnancy in 2021. This is when most women find out they are pregnant. There are no exceptions to the ban for rape or incest, and private citizens can sue abortion doctors and people who help people who want to have an abortion.

The U.S. Supreme Court also overturned Roe v. Wade on June 23, 2022, saying that there is no longer a constitutional right to abortion, which had been protected for almost 50 years. Trigger rules made it illegal in the state to have an abortion on July 24, 2022. Some local governments are now trying to make it illegal to get an abortion outside of your state.