More Babies in Upton/Druid Heights are Born Healthy and Infant Mortality Rates Among Infants Decrease to a Historical Low.

Much credit for the historically low infant mortality rate in Upton/Druid Heights goes to Promise Heights-B’more for Healthy Babies, a community-based and community-engaged intervention to improve birth outcomes. In this photo, B’more for Healthy Babies hosted ‘A Night of Relaxation’ to equip new and expecting moms with stress-relief skills to navigate the challenging world of parenting their little ones and improve birth outcomes.

We are celebrating progress and a milestone: the numbers above show Upton/Druids Heights and Mondawmin's combined infant mortality rate is lower than the rest of Baltimore City following historically being higher due to sleep-related and preventable deaths of babies and early-life infants.

One decade from the highest rate in 2003-2007 (a five-year rolling average), this chart shows the number of infant deaths in 2013-2017 at its lowest point in a decade.

Thanks in part to Promise Heights-B’more for Healthy Babies, a community-based and community-engaged intervention to improve birth outcomes, more babies in Upton/Druid Heights are being born at full term and healthy weights, and more mothers are choosing to breastfeed to ensure their child receives a healthy start in life.

Here are 5-year rolling averages for

infant mortality rates (IMR) in

Baltimore City,Upton/Druid Heights (U/DH), and Mondawmin.

IMR Rates for 2013-2017:

Baltimore City: 9.3/1000 ↓

U/DH: 7.2/1000 ↓

Mondawmin: 5.5/1000↓

(source: Baltimore City Health Department)