Contact us at: whispernthunder1@gmail.comINFANT MORTALITY RATES IN NATIVE POPULATIONS
~ Paula Raimondo, MLS
May 2025
The infant mortality rate for American Indian
and Alaska Native infants is almost double
that of white infants. In 2022, the rate for
American Indian and Alaska Native infants
was 9.1 deaths per 1,000 live births, while the
rate for white infants was 4.5, according to
the Office of Minority Health (OMH)1. The
infant mortality rate for AI/AN infants is also
higher than that of Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander infants in the U.S.
American Indian/Alaska Native infants are 2.7 times more likely than non-Hispanic white infants to die from accidental deaths before the age of one year.
American Indian/Alaska Native infants are 50 percent more likely to die from c
In 2019, American Indian/Alaska Native mothers were almost three times as likely to receive late or no prenatal care as compared to non-Hispanic white mothers.
American Indian/Alaska Native mothers are 70 percent more likely to smoke during pregnancy as compared to non-Hispanic white mothers.
According to the CDC, the primary causes of infant mortality among native populations are:
- Low birthweight
- Congenital malformations
- Maternal Complications
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) *
- Accidents (unintentional injuries) *
* There is a lack of reliable statistics here due to the various methods used by law enforcement to keep records. Cases of infant death in native populations are not always adequately investigated.
Indian and Alaska Native mothers are more likely to receive late or no prenatal care, which can contribute to higher infant mortality rates. This may be due to lack of transportation, inability to pay for care, structural racism and a lack of investment in tribal communities.
Unfortunately, the current administration in Washington, DC is in the process of cutting funding for many programs that could reverse the high infant mortality rates for native peoples. These cuts will impact the Affordable Care Act, the Indian Health Service, Medicaid, environmental health and other social programs.
Following is a list of resources still in existence that provide assistance to native women.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Division of Tribal Affairs
https://www.cms.gov/training-education/partner-outreach-resources/american-indian-alaska-native
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Division of Tribal Affairs works with AI/AN communities and leaders to enable access to culturally competent healthcare to eligible to CMS beneficiaries in Indian Country. CMS collaborates with the Indian Health Service and other federal partners to facilitate access to high quality and timely healthcare.
Family Spirit
https://familyspiritprogram.org/
Any woman who is pregnant or a caregiver with a child who is less than 3 years old has access to the Family Spirit Program. Other family members are encouraged to participate. The Family Spirit curriculum is designed to serve families and their children sequentially from before birth until the child’s 3rd birthday. Some affiliates enroll all mothers beginning in pregnancy, while others open enrollment up to families with children at any age until the child’s 3rd birthday. Family Spirit is especially useful for young mothers (under the age of 24) or at-risk mothers.
Find Help
https://www.findhelp.org/
Find free or reduced-cost resources like food, housing, financial assistance, health care, and more social care technology to improve health outcomes. Includes resources covering health, transportation, legal, education and work. Search for services by zip code.
Native Head Start
https://www.headstart.gov/programs/article/american-indian-alaska-native-programs
Programs are specifically designed to serve American Indian and Alaska Native children and families. Services offered include early childhood education, health, and family support, while also incorporating Indigenous knowledge and cultural practices.
National Indian Head Start Directors Association (NIHSDA)
https://www.nihsda.org/
NIHSDA advocates for Native children and families in Head Start programs, promoting culturally responsive services and ensuring that Native language and culture are integrated into the programs.
Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (ECD)
https://acf.gov/ecd/tribal/tribal-home-visiting
The ECD oversees early care and education programs in the Administration of Children and Families (ACF). ECD provides leadership to support a national agenda focused on young children, their families, and the early care and education workforce. During young children’s formative years, the early childhood programs are focused on ensuring all children and families have access to comprehensive, high-quality programs, and services.
1 https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/infant-mortality-and-american-indiansalaska-natives