COLUMBUS – The Ohio Senate voted Wednesday to approve a measure aimed at stemming the infant mortality rate in Ohio, one of the highest in the nation.
The bill – co-sponsored by Sen. Charleta Tavares (D-Columbus) and Sen. Shannon Jones (R –Warren County) passed with only one “no” vote and now goes to the House of Representatives where Senate leaders hope it sees action prior to the post-election lame-duck session.
The bill implements recommendations made by the Ohio Commission on Infant Mortality, including banning the sale of crib bumpers.
“We are investing in evidence-based and promising practice strategies to reverse this negative and painful trend. We must change our strategies if we want to see a positive change in the lives of Ohio’s infants,” concluded Tavares.
According to the commission, Ohio is currently ranked 45th in the nation for the overall infant mortality rate and last when it comes to African American babies.
The bill also provides annual safe-sleep education to parents, long-acting reversible contraception, a requirement that the Ohio Housing Authority include pregnancy as a priority in its housing assistance programs, and better data tracking so that outcomes can be measured, especially as they relate to race and ethnicity, Tavares said.
She says, while some modest progress is being made as it relates to white children, the infant mortality rate has actually increased for African American babies.