Study Finds Sudden Infant Death Widening Black-White Mortality Gap

A study published Sept. 22 in JAMA Network Open found that the gap in infant mortality rates between Black and white babies widened between 2020 and 2024, with sudden unexpected infant death identified as the largest single driver of the disparity. Researchers analyzed federal birth and infant death records covering nearly 58 million live births to reach these findings. The study does not describe a specific policy action or regulatory change tied to the findings. For Medicaid programs, which finance a large share of births and infant care, the research underscores persistent racial disparities in birth outcomes relevant to maternal and infant health initiatives.

Maternal