South Carolina’s rate for infant deaths is lower than it has been in 20 years. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control announced that the state’s infant mortality rate for 2008, the latest report, was 8 deaths per 1,000 births. That’s six percent lower than the rate of 8.5 in 2007.
This drop in deaths marks the lowest rate South Carolina has seen in 20 years and also represents the third straight year that black and other infant deaths have decreased. DHEC says parents should follow simple guidelines such as: place the infant on his or her back when sleeping, avoid exposing the infant to second hand smoke, and take the child to a healthcare provider on a regular basis.
