MONTGOMERY -- Alabama's infant mortality rate has dropped to a record low, welcomed news for a state that traditionally ranks among nation's worst, state health officials said Wednesday,

In 2009 the state had 513 infant deaths for a rate of 8.2 deaths per 1000 live births. That's the lowest rate since record keeping began more than a century ago.

"This is really good news," state Health Officer Don Williamson said at a news conference announcing the numbers.

While national rankings won't be out until later this year, Williams said Alabama's infant mortality rate is now closer to that of many other states.

"We're not in a different country now. We're in the ballpark," Williamson said.

But despite the improvement, Williamson said he still expects Alabama to rank near the bottom in terms of infant deaths - just hopefully the state will no longer rank at the very bottom.

"Hopefully, we'll move from 48th or 49th, up the chart," Williamson said.

"I'm betting we're going to be in the bottom ten. I hope we're not going to be in the bottom five," Williamson said.

Alabama in 2009 saw declines in the number of teen births, low birth weight babies and the numbers of mothers who smoked during their pregnancies -- all risk factors for infant mortality.

Linda Tilly, executive director of Voices for Alabama's Children said the drop was refreshing and she hoped it was not an aberration.

"I'm almost elated to see the numbers. I really hope this is a trend," Tilly said.

The infant mortality rate for black infants at 13.3 deaths per 1,000 live births is the lowest the state has recorded and close to the national average of 13.4 percent in 2006, Williamson said But it also remained much higher than the mortality rate for white infants at 6.2.

Williamson said he believed the impact of the economic recession could be seen in the numbers. The total number of births declined, an indicator that some families were delaying pregnancy.

But while Alabama recorded a record low, advocates say Alabama's persistent ranking near the bottom for infant deaths shows there is still work to be done.

Brewton Dr. Marsha Raulerson, a pediatrician, said she believes a major problem for poor pregnancy outcome is the lack of healthcare for women before they get pregnant.

Raulerson said she frequently has former patients, who are now young adults and have no health insurance, call and ask her how much she would charge them for an office visit. Many women don't have access to a doctor before they are pregnant to treat issues such as obesity or high blood pressure, she said.

"It may be six or eight weeks before they go (to an obstetrician), and it's already caused problems with the pregnancy," Raulerson said.