Infant mortality rates concern Ohio lawmakers

Ohio faces a healthcare crisis. At

almost eight deaths per 1,000 in-fants, Ohio’s infant mortality rate

ranks 47th among states according to recent reports.* The infant mortality rate among African

American households in Ohio ranks last in the country. While infant mortality rates have de-

clined nationwide in the past decade, Ohio’s re-mained stagnant. In 2012 alone over 1,000 in-fants died before their first birthday in Ohio.*

Research indicates that the majority of infant

deaths come as result of premature birth and pregnancy complications. Health officials argue, however, that many of these deaths are pre-

ventable with adequate prenatal care.

Statistics show a baby born to a woman without prenatal care is three times more likely to be

born at a low birth weight and five times more likely to die before its first birthday than a baby born to a mother receiving prenatal care.*

Prenatal care reduces the incidence of preterm

births, thus lowering high healthcare costs asso-ciated with neonatal intensive care stays for pre-term infants.

Despite the sustained epidemic in Ohio, the re-

cently passed House version of the two-year state budget calls for the elimination of family

planning, prenatal care and health and wellness coverage for pregnant women earning between $21,708 and $31,460—up to 200 percent of the

federal poverty level. Poverty is one of the main non-medical contributors to infant mortality,

where low-income women are less likely to have access to prenatal care.

Even with setbacks during budget ne-gotiations, state lawmakers took a

step to raise awareness about infant mortality last month. State Reps. Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) and

Sarah LaTourette (R-Bainbridge) offered a reso-lution declaring the state’s infant mortality epi-

demic a public health crisis and urged all preg-nant women in Ohio to have a comprehensive

preterm birth risk screening. They also called on lawmakers, healthcare advocates and women to push for more change. The resolution passed

unanimously. *https://www.odh.ohio.gov/~/media/Images/Ohio%20Commitment%202013h%202%20FNL%

2012172013.ashx

House marks first Prescription Drug Abuse & Awareness Education Day

On May 1, Ohio legislators recognized the inau-

gural Prescription Drug Abuse and Awareness Ed-ucation Day. In 2014, state legislators passed a

law designating the awareness day as the first Friday in May.

Recently, the Ohio Department of Health reported that there have been more than

10,000 deaths caused by drug overdoses in Ohio since 2002—mainly attributed to the state’s prescription pill and heroin

epidemic. According to the report, from 1999 to 2013, Ohio experienced a 413

percent increase in deaths caused by overdoses.

As part of the effort combat the growing rate of

drug abuse, the awareness day helps educate Ohioans about the dangers of misusing prescrip-

tion medication–especially pain killers, which are extremely addictive.

By encouraging open discussion about the dangers of abusing prescription

drugs, we can help those who already find themselves addicted to identify and connect with resources and treatment.