Maternal and Child Health Data Book: The Health of America's Children.

This data book describes 1) the status of US maternal and child health the progress in reducing infant mortality low birth weight births and the percentage of pregnant women who receive late or no prenatal care; 2) patterns of teenage and out-of-wedlock childbearing; and 3) the extent to which certain safety net programs--Aid to Families with Dependent Children Medicaid and the Women Infants and Children Supplemental Food Program--are meeting the needs of the poorest women and children. The dramatic upswing in childhood poverty from 1979 to 1983 and downswing in vital public health nutrition and family support services from 1981 to 1983 have been accompanied by a marked slowdown in the decline of overall and neonatal infant mortality a nationwide rise in postneonatal infant mortality an increase in the percentage of low birth weight babies and in women receiving late or no prenatal care and the widest disparity in more than 4 decades between the infant mortality rates of blacks and whites. Prenatal care is the 1st major action step for 6 reasons: 1) it will save thousands of infant lives and prevent needless birth defects 2) teens are more likely than adults to have low birth weight babies and to lack prenatal care 3) it is an area where we can articulate clear goals and track progress 4) it saves money and lowers infant mortality in the most cost-effective way 5) it reaches teens during the 1st pregnancy and counsels them on ways to avoid repeat pregnancies and 6) the importance of prenatal care is an issue that many different people can agree on and work with. The 3 parts of this databook include 1) an overview of maternal and child health for the US as a whole 2) extensive information on a state-by-state basis and 3) statistical tables from which the findings in part 1 and 2 are derived.