Slowing Decline In Infant Mortality Linked To Poor Health Among Pregnant Women, Report Finds

Main Category: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Also Included In: Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Article Date: 18 Jun 2008 - 7:00 PST

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A slowing in the decline of the U.S. infant mortality rate since 2000 can be linked to poor health among pregnant women, according to a report released Wednesday by the group Trust for America's Health, CQ HealthBeat reports. The report was released in conjunction with the Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2008 Kids Count report, which compiled nationwide data on child wellness.

According to the TFAH report -- titled "Healthy Women, Healthy Babies" -- gains in infant health have stagnated because of worsening health conditions -- such as obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes -- among pregnant women. "In the wake of all the great medical breakthroughs over the last 40 years, one would assume that infant mortality rates would plummet," TFAH Executive Director Jeff Levi said, adding, "Instead, medical progress has been canceled out in the delivery room by the deteriorating health of childbearing-aged women and their lack of health care access" (Johnson, CQ HealthBeat, 6/13).

About 30% of pregnant women experience some complications during pregnancy, which cost the U.S. $26.2 billion in 2005. The report linked premature births and low birthweights with health conditions among pregnant women (TFAH release, 6/12).The report recommended:

~ State Medicaid programs be allowed to cover women without a waiver and allow benefits to follow women after giving birth for two years;

~ Expansion of programs providing primary care and other services to women of childbearing age, including community health centers, the Healthy Start Infant Mortality Reduction Program, the Title X family planning program, and Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grants;

~ Prioritizing research on preconception health and health care (TFAH release, 6/12).

Levi said that if health professionals "concentrate [their] efforts most on those hit hardest by the biggest health problem, low-income and minority women, we will once again see healthier [infants] and dropping infant mortality rates" (TFAH release, 6/12).

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