Report reflects persistence of inequity, with strong disparities across ethnicity, geography and socioeconomic background

Infant mortality has risen for the third year in the row, with the risk of death for babies born in deprived areas almost three times higher than those from wealthier postcodes, new figures show.

The rate of deaths for children under one year old increased from 3.8 to 3.9 per 1,000 births last year, although the overall number of infant deaths has decreased by 2%, due to a lower birthrate.