COLUMBIA - South Carolina's 2007 infant mortality rate of 8.5 deaths for each 1,000 live births is up slightly from the 2006 infant mortality rate of 8.4, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control has reported.

Despite the overall increase, however, the 2007 rate for black/other populations of 12.9 dropped for the second year in a row and is at the lowest rate in the last 10 years. It is down from last year's rate of 13.2. The overall increase in the 2007 rate is a result of an increase in the death rate for white babies. South Carolina's infant mortality rate for white babies increased from 5.7 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2006 to 6.2 in 2007.

"Infant mortality is measured from birth until the first birthday," said DHEC Commissioner Earl Hunter.

"Eliminating health disparities continues to be a top public health priority in this and many other areas," Hunter said. "Infant mortality is a complex problem that requires everyone to work together to reduce the infant death rate in all of our communities."

Of 62,933 babies born in South Carolina during 2007, 538 died before their first birthday. The leading cause of death was premature births and low birth weight. Congenital malformations, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and accidents were also among the leading causes of infant deaths.

"Although the 2007 rate does represent a slight increase, it's also important that we do not lose sight of the trend," Hunter said. "There will naturally be fluctuation from year to year, but to get a real sense of whether progress is being made, you have to look at the numbers over the long term. From that perspective, the state continues to improve, moving to the current rate of 8.5 from the 1988 rate of 12.2.