Ohio’s Investment in Maternal and Infant Health: A Report on Progress Towards Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

The state of Ohio has announced a significant investment of $20 million in grants to enhance community-based support for expectant parents and infants. This initiative, administered through the Ohio Parenting and Pregnancy Program, aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily focusing on improving health outcomes, reducing inequality, and fostering strong partnerships. The funding is being allocated as the state reports its lowest infant mortality rate in two decades, indicating positive progress towards key public health targets.

Advancements in Public Health and Contribution to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

Ohio has recorded a notable achievement in public health with its infant mortality rate dropping to 6.5 per 1,000 live births in 2024. This represents the first statistically significant decrease since 2017 and a 20-year low for the state. This progress directly supports SDG 3, Target 3.2, which aims to end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age.

The state’s investment through the Ohio Parenting and Pregnancy Program is designed to build on this success. The program provides critical services that contribute to maternal and child health, including:

• Prenatal education
• Parenting classes and skill-building
• Comprehensive case management
• Referrals to community resources
• Material assistance for families

By ensuring access to these services, the initiative also aligns with SDG 3, Target 3.7, concerning universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services.

Addressing Disparities and Promoting SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

Despite overall improvements, significant racial disparities in infant mortality persist. State data from 2022-2023 indicates a mortality rate of nearly 14 per 1,000 live births for Black infants, a rate substantially higher than the state average. In regions like Cuyahoga County, Black infants are reportedly three times more likely to die before their first birthday.

The grant program directly confronts this challenge, aligning with SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). By funding community-based organizations, the state aims to deliver culturally competent and locally tailored support to vulnerable populations. This strategy is crucial for achieving SDG 10, Target 10.2, which calls for the social and economic inclusion of all, irrespective of race or ethnicity. The program’s focus on building stable and confident families also contributes to SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by empowering parents and providing a foundation for children to thrive.

Fostering Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17)

The distribution of $20 million in biennial grants to 21 nonprofit organizations exemplifies a commitment to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The Ohio Department of Children and Youth utilized a competitive application process to select local partners, ensuring that services are effectively delivered at the community level. This public-private partnership model leverages the expertise and local connections of nonprofit organizations to achieve shared public health objectives. The increased legislative funding for the program, now in its second decade, underscores a sustained commitment to this collaborative approach.

List of Grant Recipients

The following 21 organizations have been selected to receive funding to implement the Ohio Parenting and Pregnancy Program:

1. A Step in the Right Direction – Columbus
2. Aim Women’s Center – Steubenville
3. Baby University – Toledo
4. Bowling Green Pregnancy Center – Bowling Green
5. Chasing Hope House – Columbus
6. Choosing Hope Adoptions – Springfield
7. Compassion Health Toledo – Toledo
8. Cornerstone Pregnancy Services DBA Cornerstone Women’s Health Center & Lilli Women’s Center – Elyria
9. Elizabeth’s New Life Center, Inc. – Dayton
10. Family Life Center of Auglaize County – Wapakoneta
11. Heartbeat of Lima County, Inc. – Lima
12. Hope, Love, and Dream, Inc. – Columbus
13. Hospital Council of Northwest Ohio – Toledo
14. It’s Not a Moment, But a Movement – Copley
15. Motivated and Empowered Inc. – Olmsted Falls
16. PDHC (Pregnancy Decision Health Centers) – Columbus
17. Pregnancy Resource Center of Athens County – Athens
18. Pregnancy Support Network – Canton
19. Refuge Host Homes – Cuyahoga Falls
20. The CORE Center (DBA Pregnancy Resource of Delaware County) – Delaware
21. Women’s Care Center Inc. – Columbus

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  This goal is central to the article, which focuses on public health initiatives to improve the well-being of mothers and infants. The entire program, involving $20 million in grants, is aimed at reducing Ohio’s infant mortality rate and providing support for expectant parents, directly contributing to ensuring healthy lives.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The article explicitly highlights a significant disparity in health outcomes based on race. It states, “nearly 14 Black children died for every 1,000 births in Ohio,” and in Cuyahoga County, “Black infants are three times more likely to die before their first birthday.” The state’s investment in community-based services aims to address these inequalities by providing support to all families, thereby working towards more equitable health outcomes for every child, irrespective of their race.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 3.2: End preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age

  The article’s primary focus is on the reduction of Ohio’s infant mortality rate. It announces that the rate has dropped to “6.5 per 1,000 live births,” its lowest in two decades. The Ohio Parenting and Pregnancy Program, which provides prenatal education and parenting classes, is a direct effort to prevent infant deaths and ensure children have a “strong start,” aligning perfectly with this target.

• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status

  This target is relevant because the article points out a severe racial inequality in infant mortality. The state’s program, by funding 21 nonprofit organizations to provide services tailored to “meet local community needs,” is an effort to reduce this gap. By providing material assistance, case management, and education, the program aims to empower vulnerable families and promote inclusion, leading to a reduction in health outcome disparities based on race.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 3.2.1 (Under-5 mortality rate) and 3.2.2 (Neonatal mortality rate)

  The article provides a direct measure for these indicators through the “infant mortality rate.” It specifies the current rate as “6.5 per 1,000 live births for 2024” and notes its historical level of “around 7 per 1,000 live births since 2017.” This data point is a clear metric used to track progress toward Target 3.2.

• Infant mortality rate, disaggregated by race

  While not an official SDG indicator title, the principle of disaggregating data to measure inequality is fundamental to SDG 10. The article provides this specific data, stating that “nearly 14 Black children died for every 1,000 births in Ohio.” This disaggregated statistic is a crucial indicator for measuring progress toward Target 10.2, as it allows for the tracking of health disparities between different racial groups.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: cleveland.com