SANTA FE >> The New Mexico Department of Health reported today infant mortality in New Mexico decreased in 2013 to 5.4 infant deaths per 1,000 births. This represents a 22 percent decline in the infant mortality rate in New Mexico in reference to the rate of 6.9 in 2012.
The decline means there were 143 infants deaths in 2013 compared to 186 in 2012. The new data is based on deaths to residents of New Mexico registered by the Vital Records and Health Statistics Bureau in the Department of Health.
"The infant mortality rate in New Mexico can vary substantially from year to year; steep increases or decreases from year to year are not uncommon," said Department of Health Secretary Retta Ward, MPH. "The Department of Health will continue working to better understand the causes of infant mortality and implement initiatives to prevent and decrease infant deaths."
The 2012 infant mortality rate of 6.9 was a statistically significant increase of 31 percent over the three years prior average rate of 5.3, according to a Department of Health Epidemiology Report: Increase in the Infant Mortality Rate in New Mexico, 2012. That report attributed the increase in infant mortality in 2012 to a combination of factors including more chronic conditions among mothers and behaviors that contributed significant risk such as increased alcohol and cigarette use before and during pregnancy.
The percentages of extremely low birth weight births (under 1500 grams and under 500 grams) and infants born extremely preterm (at gestational ages less than 28 weeks) compared to the 2009-2011 average were also significantly higher in 2012.
The Department of Health through the Family Health Bureau continues to monitor critical birth outcomes such as infant mortality and is actively participating in a multi-state regional Collaborative Improvement and Innovation Network to reduce infant mortality and improve birth outcomes.
For more information visit nmhealth.org.