NEW STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS INFANT MORTALITY IN OHIO

(2016-2017)

DRAFT

Building upon a comprehensive range of initiatives that

addressed infant mortality from 2011-2015, Ohio is
implementing new initiatives in 2016 - 2017 to tackle the
leading causes of infant mortality, focus resources where the
needs are greatest, and implement system changes that will
help save babies lives.
Prematurity
Smoking during pregnancy is one of the most common preventable risk factors in infant mortality.
New state funding is being used to expand tools, training and technical assistance for treating
tobacco use; train for the Baby & Me, Tobacco Free and the Moms Quit for Two programs; expand
the Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialists program; and evaluating progress through data
analysis.
Birth intervals of at least 18 months reduce the risk of low birth-weight, preterm birth, placental
abruption and other poor birth outcomes and maternal morbidities. ODH is funding initiatives to
educate healthcare providers and other professionals who interact with women of reproductive
age and men on the use of planning tools to promote safe birth spacing and reproductive health
planning, in addition to providing comprehensive reproductive health and wellness services to
approximately 30,000 women, men and adolescents.

Birth Defects
ODH maintains a birth defects surveillance system of reportable birth defects to detect trends and
epidemics; facilitate access to treatment and intervention services to improve childrens health
outcomes; and inform and educate health professionals and the public about birth defects and
how they may be prevented. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded funding
to ODH to implement systems to identify potential birth defects linked to the Zika virus in pregnant
women microcephaly, hydrocephaly, arthrogryposis and other central nervous system brain
reduction birth defects.

Safe Sleep Practices

ODH is strengthening the screening and referral process in its free Cribs for Kids program to give
priority to eligible families in in high-risk communities. The Cribs for Kids program promotes the use
of cribs as a safe sleep practice for infants.
ODH is investing another $500,000 in a comprehensive public awareness campaign in the nine
Ohio Equity Institute communities about the risk of sleep-related deaths and the ABCs of safe sleep
practices for infants (Alone, on their Back, in a Crib).

NEW STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS INFANT MORTALITY IN OHIO

(2016-2017)

DRAFT

Focus Resources Where the Needs are Greatest

ODH is supporting the nine Ohio Equity Institute communities in building capacity for data analysis
by funding epidemiologists in each community. This data analysis support will equip communities
in planning, implementing and evaluating infant mortality activities at the local level. An evaluation
of the overall statewide and local Ohio Equity Institute infant mortality efforts will be conducted
using a model developed in collaboration with Harvard University and the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
Infant mortality evidence-based interventions are being implemented and evaluated by Ohio
Equity Institute communities. The Centering Pregnancy model of care and safe birth-spacing life
planning are being implemented in five of these communities; safe sleep initiatives are being
implemented in three communities; increased community engagement and progesterone therapy
are being pursued in two communities; and smoking cessation and case management are being
implemented in one community.

System Changes
The Ohio Department of Medicaid is investing $26.8 million in State Fiscal Year 2016-17 through its
five Medicaid managed care plans to support work in the nine Ohio Equity Institute communities.
The funding is being used to increase awareness about infant mortality in high-risk communities
through community engagement, and to increase care coordination among agencies that provide
care for at-risk women and infants.
ODH and the Ohio Department of Medicaid are partnering with the Government Resource
Center at The Ohio State University to design and implement a new Ohio survey of new mothers.
Data from the survey will be used to assess infant mortality risk factors in Ohio Equity Institute
communities and to monitor statewide infant mortality risk factors.
The Governors Office of Health Transformation, along with partnering state agencies, are
facilitating an Infant Mortality Research Partnership with Ohios universities through the
Government Resource Center at The Ohio State University. The research is focused on identifying
high-risk communities; predictive modeling for infant mortality; assessing the impact of improved
access to care, safe sleep practices, home visiting programs and use of progesterone on infant
mortality.
A hormone medication called progesterone has the potential to reduce the incidence of preterm
birth. Supported by ODH and the Ohio Department of Medicaid, the Ohio Perinatal Quality
Collaboratives (OPQC) progesterone project is expanding from five community health center pilot
sites to all 46 of Ohios federally qualified health centers, and from 21 to 23 other outpatient clinics.
They are joining the original 20 hospitals and healthcare systems participating in the progesterone
project. To record and track performance of dozens of its quality improvement measures, OPQC is
launching a data infrastructure development project with more than 1,110 users at approximately
125 Ohio hospitals and medical practices.
The Governors Office of Health Transformation, ODH and other partners are aligning state and
local public health and population health planning in a new State Health Improvement Plan which
addresses maternal and child health, including infant mortality. The plan is based on a recent
State Health Assessment and will be completed in late 2016. The State Health Improvement Plan
and local Community Health Improvement Plans will be aligned to ensure that infant mortality is a
priority statewide with targeted, complementary initiatives at the state and local levels.
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