Ohio infant mortality collaborative sees early success

A collaboration of state agencies, hospitals and other entities in Ohio has found early success in reducing the number of some scheduled deliveries, which have been increasing nationally for more than a decade (Source: “Collaboration of Ohio agencies, hospitals, other groups reduces scheduled preterm births,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, Sept. 15, 2009).

The Ohio Perinatal Quality Collaborative was formed in 2007 to reduce the number of preterm births at 36, 37 and 38 weeks' gestation that aren't medically necessary and reduce the number of hospital infections in babies weighing less than 3 pounds, 5 ounces.

Since March 2007, the average number of scheduled deliveries (babies born in member hospitals between 36 weeks' and just under 39 weeks' gestation) that were not medically necessary has dropped from about 13 percent to 6.8 percent.

According to OPQC, preterm birth is the leading cause of infant mortality in Ohio.