Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said there were 219 unexplained infant deaths in England and Wales in 2016, up from 195 in 2015. The 2016 figure is the highest number since 2013 when there were 252 deaths.
However, over the last decade the number of unexplained infant deaths has declined overall by 23.2 per cent.
Unexplained infant deaths accounted for 8.3 per cent of all infant deaths in 2016, compared with 7.6 per cent in 2015, the ONS said.
The unexplained infant mortality rate remained the highest among children born to mothers under 20.
The figures suggested the highest unexplained infant mortality rates were in the West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the north-west of England.
The largest increase was in the West Midlands where the unexplained infant mortality rate rose by 21.6 per cent from 2015.
Boys accounted for over half (51.6 per cent) of unexplained infant deaths in 2016, down from 66.7 per cent in 2015. Girls made up 48.4 per cent, up from 33.3 per cent in 2015.
The unexplained infant mortality rate for boys was 0.32 deaths per 1,000 live births, compared to 0.31 for girls. However, when compared with 2015, there was a larger increase in the rate among girls, as it increased by 63.2 per cent while the rate for boys fell by 11.1 per cent.
Vasita Patel of the vital statistics outputs branch at the ONS said, ‘While unexplained infant deaths increased in 2016 for the first time in three years, the total remains low in historical terms. The increase was driven by a rise in unascertained deaths among infant girls.
‘However, due to the low numbers involved the overall increase in unexplained infant deaths is not statistically significant.’
The ONS could not conclusively say what caused the increase in unexplained infant deaths, but suggested exposure to smoking, low birthweight, overheating and an unsafe sleeping environment were all risk factors.
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) charity the Lullaby Trust suggested the increase may be due to recent cuts to Public Health and local parental support services, along with widening inequality.
Francine Bates, chief executive of the Lullaby Trust, said, ‘We are deeply concerned by the increased SIDS rate in England and Wales.
‘The previous downward trend in SIDS deaths has been largely attributed to increased awareness of safer sleep advice so it is essential that this remains a top priority for local authorities and all professionals working with families.
‘SIDS rates are highest in the most deprived areas and we worry that pressures on local authorities’ public health budgets and the increasing number of families being pushed into poverty will lead to slower progress or even further increases in the number of deaths.
‘We urge local authorities to ensure there is adequate funding for health visitors and early years staff who provide crucial safer sleep advice to families with new babies.’
- More information https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/