Maryland’s national rankings for infant mortality and low-birthweight babies are extraordinarily low, as revealed by the 2010 Kids Count report. Recent data shows an improvement in infant mortality, which is good news and may reflect better services. However, racial disparities are wider than ever, and too many babies are still dying or sick. Maryland needs to fully implement the Governor’s infant mortality plan, including expanding family planning services to more women prior to their first pregnancy. These strategies not only save lives, they save money.
For an issue brief by Advocates for Children and Youth on birth outcomes in Maryland, click here.
For maps and more detailed data on infant mortality, click here.
For graphs on racial disparities in infant mortality, click here.
For maps and more detailed data on low-birthweight babies, click here.
