COLUMBUS, Ohio – Columbus health officials are targeting the city’s increasing infant mortality rate.
The city is launching a task force to address premature births, low birth weights and sudden infant death syndrome, among other causes of death for infants.
The group will try to reduce Columbus’ infant mortality rate by 40 percent.
“As the nation’s infant mortality rate has decreased, the rates in Ohio and Franklin County have increased. This is unacceptable,” Columbus City Council president Andrew Ginther said.
As many as four babies die each week in Franklin County, on average and the infant mortality rate in 2013 is as high as the national rate from the early 1990s. The infant mortality rate for black babies is 2.5 times that of white babies in Franklin County, officials say.
Columbus Public Health will work with Nationwide Children’s Hospital to lead the task force, which will include the CEOs from the four major health systems in Columbus, as well as representatives from the business community, parents, education, human service organizations and the faith community, Ginther and city Health Commissioner Dr. Teresa Long said.
Ginther and Long say more than 13 percent of babies born in Franklin County every year are born too early. Disorders related to premature and low-birth weight are the leading causes of death for infants children born pre-term or of low weight have 10 times higher health care costs, are more likely to experience persistent illness and health complications — such as cerebral palsy, breathing and respiratory problems, vision and hearing loss, and feeding and digestive issues — and may be more likely to have difficulties learning in school.
The task force will hold its first meeting in January.