Infant mortality up in Ohio

While the national infant mortality rate remains constant, Ohio’s rate has climbed from 7.6 deaths per 1,000 babies born last year to 8.3 this year (Source: “Being a kid in Ohio is tough,” Columbus Dispatch, June 12, 2008). Only seven states and the District of Columbia have worse rates.

That finding is part of the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s annual Kids Count Data Book, a ranking of states in 10 areas related to the well-being of children. Overall, Ohio’s ranking fell from 28th last year to 30th this year. In response to the growing infant mortality rate, the Ohio Department of Health is working on a campaign to educate women before they even become pregnant about the importance of prenatal care.