Right Start in Michigan 2009

Michigan League for Human Services1115 South Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 202, Lansing, MI 48912-1658 (517) 487-5436

Fax: (517) 371-4546 Web site: http://www.MiLHS.org

A United Way Agency

An Overview by Jane Zehnder-Merrell

Sr. Research Associate, Michigan League for Human Services

janez@michleagueforhumansvs.org

Maternal and Infant Health

• Maternal risk characteristics–Age – teen/repeat teen–Marital status–Education –Prenatal care–Smoking during pregnancy

• Birth outcomes/infants–Low-birthweight–Preterm

Michigan Overview

Births to teens

Repeat births to teens

Births to unmarried women

Less than 12 years education

Late or no prenatal care

Smoked during pregnancy

Low-birthweight babies

Preterm births

Percent Change in Rate WORSE BETTER

20 10 0 10 20 30 40

County Group Analysis: Geography by Population Density

• Urban – 28 (over 65,000)

• Mid-sized – 36 (20,000-65,000)

• Rural – 19 (under 20,000)

Michigan County Groups*

Right Start 2009

*Based on populationSource: Population Reference Bureau

Demographics in the County Groups

Source: Michigan Department of Community Health, Vital Records and Health Data Development

Michigan county groups reflected similar levels of risk by maternal age and

education.

Source: Michigan Department of Community Health, Vital Records and Health Data Development

Urban counties had the highest rates of low-birthweight babies and preterm births.

Source: Michigan Department of Community Health, Vital Records and Health Data Development

Unlike non-marital birth rates, maternal smoking during pregnancy varied

dramatically among county groups.

Source: Michigan Department of Community Health, Vital Records and Health Data Development

In 2007 the largest numbers of Michigan's non-marital births occurred

to women in their 20s.

Source: Michigan Department of Community Health, Vital Records and Health Data Development

The percent of births to single women escalated in all Michigan county groups.

Source: Michigan Department of Community Health, Vital Records andHealth Data Development

Percent of total live births

The percentage of low-birthweight babies worsened in all county groups.

Source: Michigan Department of Community Health, Vital Records andHealth Data Development

The percentage of mothers with less than 12 years education declined the most in

rural counties.

Source: Michigan Department of Community Health, Vital Records andHealth Data Development

Maternal smoking during pregnancy declined sharply in urban counties.

Source: Michigan Department of Community Health, Vital Records andHealth Data Development

Policy Implications

• Early childhood – begin at the beginning

• Targeting scarce resources at high risk demographic and geographic groups – executive order cuts

• Medicaid matters – provider rates

• Women’s health