Babies born in the Delta region have the worst outcomes among U.S. infants

A new CDC report looking at infant and maternal characteristic across Appalachia and the Delta regions of the U.S. found that babies born in these two areas were more likely to be born preterm and to younger mothers compared to the rest of the country. Here’s more: 

• Mortality rates: Infants in the eight Delta region states — including Missouri and Louisiana — had a higher mortality rate than infants in the 13 states in Appalachia or elsewhere in the U.S. 
• Other infant trends: Infants in the Delta region were more likely to be born prematurely or with low birth weight than infants elsewhere. 
• Maternal characteristics: Women in the Delta and Appalachian regions gave birth to about 10% of all infants in 2017, with infants born to Appalachian women accounting for more than half of these births.