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Ohio Infant Deaths Decrease, but Racial Disparity Continues
By: Associated Press
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Health officials say the number of infant deaths in Ohio decreased overall from 2017 to 2018, including a substantial drop in deaths among black infants. But the Department of Health says deaths of black infants continue to disproportionately outpace those of white babies.
The state recorded 938 infant deaths in 2018, down from 982 the previous year.
The overall infant mortality rate dropped to 6.9 in 2018 from 7.2 the year before, and to 13.9 for black babies compared to 15.6 in 2017.
The national infant mortality rate is 5.8.