Virginia Working to Improve Infant Mortality Rate

Nearly 200 more babies born in Virginia are living to see their first birthday thanks to a substantial decrease in the state’s infant mortality rate over the past five years.

The state’s infant mortality rate decreased by 18.2 percent from 2007 to 2012, according to the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.

Virginia attributes its recent infant mortality rate drop to “strong collaborative networks among public, private and nonprofit organizations focusing on evidence-based methods.” These efforts have helped reduce the number of early elective deliveries that occurred between 37 and 39 weeks of gestation from 4.76 percent to less than 1 percent, CBS6 reports.

Infant mortality is one of the most important indicators of the health of a state, as it is associated with a variety of factors such as maternal health, quality and access to medical care, socioeconomic conditions, and public health practices, according to the Virginia Department of Health. The agency hopes to decrease the state’s infant mortality rate even further from 6.7 to 5.7 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2018.

Virginia recently scored a “B” on the March of Dimes’ annual report card, which notes the state is “moving in the right direction” for uninsured women and women experiencing late preterm birth. Click here to view the March of Dimes 2014 Premature Birth Report Card for Virginia.

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