Louisiana infant mortality rate
As of 2017, the infant mortality rate in Louisiana was at 7.1 per a thousand, which was higher than the national average of 5.8. Nevertheless, in 2018 the infant mortality rate increased to 7.7 per 1000. Recent data, however, suggest that between the years 2008 to 2018, the infant mortality rate in Louisiana had decreased by fourteen percent.
Importance
Early childhood is an important component in understanding the health and well-being of a country Lamichhane, Zhao, Paudel & Adewuyi (2017). It is a critical indicator in determining the physical health of a country or society. Examining the number of people born is important for planning and organizing resources in a country. Countries that have large geographical spaces like the United States are required to understand infant mortality rates. This is critical because it enables the state and federal governments to allocate resources based on how fast or slow a population grows. Furthermore, infant mortality rates are important health care data because they enable healthcare professionals to understand the causes of death among children. This is important to facilitate the development of solutions that healthcare workers can use to minimize child mortality rates. Additionally, the government uses the infant mortality rates information to project or determine the labor force population in the future.
Policy change
Proposing any policy changes to curb or reduce infant mortality rates in Louisiana requires understanding some of the key determinants causing the problem. Numerous studies have shown that access to health, socioeconomic condition, and the mother’s healthiness is among the key factors that propose or increase infant mortality rates in Louisiana. Essentially, the high concentrates of poverty in most parts of Louisiana have been cited as a key driver of infant mortality rates. People with minimal or low economic status have minimal resources to acquire quality care for their children. Coherently, the lack of proper healthcare information and care, especially in prenatal care and prenatal care, is inadequate in Louisiana. Thus proposed policies have to be in tandem with the determinants of infant mortality rates.
Specifically, a policy should be introduced that offers housing assistance to expectant mothers, especially those facing homelessness. Pregnant women in vulnerable and stressful situations are at a higher risk of “loosing” their pregnancy or infant. This can be achieved by introducing a mobile health clinic or van that can “bring closer” reproductive healthcare services to mothers and women in Louisiana vulnerable communities. The vans can be instrumental in providing the expectant mother with treatment, education, support and resources to enhance their birth delivery process.
In Louisiana, a significant percentage of babies are born prematurely. Such a situation can have a detrimental impact on the development and health of an infant, which can result in death. Therefore, developing policies that offer home-based training to midwives and pregnant mothers to concentrate on full-term infants can significantly reduce infant mortality. The policy can incorporate childbirth education training programs geared towards not cesarean or induction during early births.
The abuse of drugs and alcohol by pregnant mothers has increased the infant mortality rate in Louisiana. Thus policy to facilitate intervention activities such as counseling and coaching to pregnant mothers and offering reduced or free cost nicotine replacement products to minimize nicotine abuse among pregnant women. The adoption of the above mentioned policies will aid in reducing infant mortality rates in Louisiana.
Reference
Lamichhane, R., Zhao, Y., Paudel, S., & Adewuyi, E. O. (2017). Factors associated with infant mortality in Nepal: a comparative analysis of Nepal demographic and health surveys (NDHS) 2006 and 2011. BMC public health, 17(1), 1-18.
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