Mecklenburg County Public Health Releases 2025 Infant Mortality Report: Racial Disparity Gap Persists Despite Improving Infant Outcomes
The Mecklenburg County Public Health Department is committed to staying informed of local child health trends to support the health of our youngest residents and their families. In February of 2026, as part of new efforts to make maternal child health data more accessible to the community, the Mecklenburg County Public Health Department released a new report on infant mortality. Infant mortality refers to the death of a live-born baby from birth to their first birthday.
This report shows that overall birth outcomes have improved in Mecklenburg County with declining rates of prematurity, low birth weight, and infant mortality. However, health disparities remain, especially for non-Hispanic Black infants who are at an increased risk of birth complications and death compared to non-Hispanic White infants.
From 2014-2023, the overall rate of infant mortality in Mecklenburg County decreased to 5 infant deaths per 1,000 births, placing the county below the United States’ rate of 5.6 and North Carolina’s rate of 6.8. When broken down by race and ethnicity, the infant mortality rate in Mecklenburg County from 2021-2023 was 8.8 for non-Hispanic Black infants, 4.8 for Hispanic infants and 2.4 for non-Hispanic white infants.
“Mecklenburg County has a vision that all babies in our county are born healthy and reach their optimal potential,” said Dr. Kimberly Scott, Mecklenburg County Public Health Interim Director. “Unfortunately, every year about 70 infants in Mecklenburg County die before celebrating their first birthday and Black babies are over 3 times more likely to die. It shouldn’t and doesn’t have to be this way.”
For Mecklenburg County, key findings from the report include:
- Perinatal conditions are the leading cause of infant deaths and account for almost 50% of infant deaths. Birth defects are the second leading cause.
- Sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUIDs) are the number one cause of injury-related infant deaths and the third leading cause of infant deaths overall.
- High blood pressure is a common maternal health risk factor, both before and during pregnancy.
- One out of five pregnant individuals receive inadequate prenatal care, meaning they start care after the fourth month of pregnancy, or they complete half or fewer of the recommended care visits. Hispanic women experience the highest rates of inadequate prenatal care.
“It takes a community effort to reduce infant mortality and keep moms, moms-to-be, babies and families safe and healthy,” said Dr. Elisabeth Pordes, Mecklenburg County Public Health senior health program manager for the Prenatal to Five Initiative. “In uncertain times, a unified, unwavering commitment to improving infant and maternal health is more necessary than ever.”
Key recommendations from the report include:
- Focus on eliminating disparities while improving health for all
- Progress requires a whole-community approach
- Co-construct infrastructure to improve preconception and prenatal health with community leaders
- Amplify trailblazers of evidence-based interventions such as:
- Group prenatal care (e.g., Centering Pregnancy)
- Home-visiting and care management programs
- Team-based care including doulas and midwives
- Breastfeeding and safe infant sleep initiatives
- Addressing adverse social determinants of health
Learn more about programs within Mecklenburg County Public Health’s Maternal and Child Health Division aimed at supporting the health and well-being of parents, families, and children.