"U.S. Infant Mortality Rate Declines"

"The rate dropped 12% from 2005 to 2011, with improvements among all major racial and ethnic groups, a government report says."

"Infant mortality in the U.S. has declined 12% since 2005 after holding steady for many years, according to data released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The infant mortality rate in 2011 was 6.05 deaths per every 1,000 live births, down from 6.87 in 2005, according to the report from the National Center for Health Statistics.

Some of the biggest gains were seen in Southern states, though the region still has the highest infant mortality rates overall. The highest rates are in Mississippi and Alabama."

Anna Gorman reports for the Los Angeles Times April 17, 2013.