After years of high infancy deaths, a new study shows that those rates are finally decreasing.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported earlier today that infant mortality rates are at a new low. Within nine years, this demographic death rate dropped 15 percent—from 6.86 infant deaths per 1,000 live births to just 5.82. Additionally, deaths from Sudden Instant Death Syndrome (SIDS) decreased by 29 percent.

Paul Jarris, chief medical officer for the March of Dimes, said the study found great news. However, he also said the latest information doesn’t mean the U.S. is done working.

“On the other hand, we have so much more to do,” he explained. “What is concerning, though, is that the inequities between non-Hispanic blacks and American Indians and the Caucasian population have persisted.”

Although most racial groups experienced a significant decrease in infant mortality, the largest decrease was among Asian and Pacific Islanders. This group saw a 21 percent decrease in infant deaths. Additionally, American Indians and Alaska Natives are the only groups who did not see significant change.

Perhaps the most significant racial gap is among non-Hispanic black women and non-Hispanic white women. The former group suffers from a mortality rate more than twice the rate of the latter. In Hispanic subgroups, the infant mortality rate varied. The highest, in the Puerto Rican group, was above the national average—6.68 percent—while the lowest, among Cubans—was only 3.95 percent.

T.J. Mathews, a demographer at the CDC, said the average decline is because of the public’s push to find ways to improve infant health.

“There was a public health push in the past decade to figure out ways to lower this rate,” he said. “We know that there have been a lot of efforts across the country in cities and states where they’re trying to figure out ways they can lower the infant mortality rate.”

Aside from race, the CDC also looked at the leading causes of infant death. They found that four of the five leading causes of infant death showed a decline. The primary cause of infant death, congenital malformations, lowered by 11 percent. Additionally, deaths caused by prematurity and low birth weight fell 8 percent. Fatalities from maternal complications declined 7 percent and fatal SIDS cases declined 29 percent, as well. However, fatal unintentional injuries increased by 11 percent.

Overall, the majority of the country improved measures to prevent infant deaths. About Li Cohen I’m just a small-town girl in a journalist’s world, waking up bright and early every morning to find the best news to read, the most interesting stories to report, and the best coffees to submerge in.