Study Reveals Correlation Between Infant Mortality Rate and Health Insurance

A study from the American Medical Association finds a correlation between the country’s infant mortality rate, and what kind of insurance the mother has. Infants born to mothers with private insurance had a lower risk of mortality than those born to mothers on Medicaid. They also were at lower risk for premature birth, low birth weight, breech delivery and more.

The conclusions from the study found that maternal Medicaid insurance was associated with increased risk of infant mortality at the population level in the US. Novel strategies are needed to improve access to care, quality of care, and outcomes among women and infants enrolled in Medicaid. Read the study in JAMA here.