New state figures show the number of Franklin County babies dying before their first birthday remains flat. The county’s infant mortality rate continues to be higher than the state’s rate.
State data show Franklin County’s 2014 infant mortality rate largely remains the same from the previous year. For every 1,000 babies born, 8.4 died before they turned one year old. That’s higher than the state’s overall infant mortality rate of 6.8.
African American babies continue to die at a significantly higher rate than white babies.
Last year, in Franklin County, black babies accounted for 51 percent of infant deaths, but they made up 27 percent of births, according to Columbus Public Health.
To help reduce the infant mortality rate, Columbus Public Health recently rolled out a safe sleep campaign. Premature birth remains the leading cause of infant deaths.
Statewide, the Ohio Department of Health reports the overall infant mortality rate declined, in 2014, to 6.8 from 7.4 the previous year.
The rate for Ohio's black babies ticked up, in 2014, from 13.8 to 14.3. That rate is significantly higher than white infants at 5.3.