Infant mortality down, racial gap widens

ATLANTA - U.S. infant mortality has dropped by nearly half over the past two decades, but the gap between black and white babies is widening, the government said Thursday. <br> <br> The trend was not a surprise to health officials, who suspect that a lack of social support for black mothers and less adequate prenatal care is contributing to the disparity. <br> <br> Overall infant mortality fell 45 percent from 1980 to 2000 from 12.6 deaths to 6.9 deaths for every 1,000 live births, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. <br> <br> The rate dropped 48 percent for white babies during that time, but dropped only 37 percent for black babies, the CDC said. That widened the gap, making black babies 2.5 times more likely to die in their first year. <br> <br> Black babies are also much more likely than white babies to be born at low birthweight which the government defines as less than about 5.5 pounds, although that gap appears to be narrowing. Health officials say that&#39;s probably because more white mothers are delivering their babies before full term.

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