While South Carolina’s infant mortality rate is lower than ever, it remains significantly higher than the national average. In fact, in some rural South Carolina counties, the infant mortality rate more closely resembles the rates in many Third-world countries. Statewide efforts to reduce the alarming numbers have recently shown some progress, but our 4-part investigation revealed that babies in rural counties, especially black babies, continue to die at rates double and triple the rates of babies in metropolitan parts of the state. Also troubling, the most promising programs to reduce infant deaths don’t always target the geographic areas that need the most help and some of these programs receive little or no state investment.
