Community Health Outcomes

Health of our Moms

The first step to a healthy baby is a healthy mom and pregnancy. One of the maternal health challenges we’re facing locally is high rates of hypertensive disorders before and during pregnancy. View the data below to learn more about this issue.

Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy (2024)

27.3%

of pregnant women in Cuyahoga County had a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy in 2024.

Source: CDC WONDER

Notes &Takeaways

  • High blood pressure during pregnancy increases risks of preterm birth and maternal mortality.

 

  • Risk factors for high blood pressure during pregnancy include: age (younger than 20 or older than 40), diabetes or gestational diabetes, pregnancy with multiples (twins, triplets, etc.), immune system disorders (e.g., lupus), or kidney disease.

1995-2024 Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy

Source: CDC WONDER

Notes &Takeaways

This chart shows a significant increase in Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy in the last 30 years – a 733% increase.

30-Year Comparison of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy

Source: CDC WONDER

Notes &Takeaways

Thirty years ago, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy affected 1 in 30 women. Today, that figure has surged to 1 in 4 — a crisis hiding in plain sight.

Health of our Babies

What is infant Mortality?

Infant mortality is defined as the death of an infant under age one. The infant mortality rate is the number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births and is a key indicator of the overall health of a community. Simply stated, a lower IMR suggests a healthier community.

Leading causes of infant deaths in Cuyahoga County:

Extreme Prematurity

Prematurity has been the county’s lead contributor to infant mortality for 20+ years. We’re gathering data to guide solutions to eliminate deaths due to extreme prematurity.

Sleep-Related Deaths

Sleep-related deaths are the second-leading cause of infant deaths in the county. We’re promoting “safe sleep” in our training and public messaging.

2024 Cuyahoga County Data

3-Year Infant Mortality Rates

(Death per 1,000 live births)

Source: CCBH

 Notes/Takeaways

  • Overall and Black infant mortality rate (IMR) was the 4th lowest 3-year rate in the past 12 years.

 

  • Latinx IMR was the highest 3-year rate since 2017-2019.

 

  • From 2022-2024 Black families were more than 3 times as likely to experience an infant loss than white families.

Breakdown of 2024 Births and Deaths by Ethnicity or Race

Source: CCBH

 Notes/Takeaways

  • Black babies accounted for 32% of births and nearly 60% of infant deaths.

 

  • White babies accounted for 51% of births and more than 25% of infant deaths.

2020-2024 Preterm Birth Rates

Source: CCBH

 Notes/Takeaways 

  • Prematurity, also known as preterm birth, is when a baby is born before 37 weeks of gestation. Currently, prematurity is the #1 cause of infant death in Cuyahoga County, accounting for 38% of all infant deaths from 2022-2024.

 

  • 11.9% of babies were born premature from 2020-2024.

 

  • 15.8% of Black babies were born premature from 2020-2024.

2020-2024 Sleep-Related Deaths

(Death per 1,000 live births)

Source: CCBH

 Notes/Takeaways

  • Sleep-related death is the sudden and unexpected death of a baby while sleeping. It is the #1 cause of infant death for babies 1 month old and older.

  • 95 sleep-related deaths occurred from 2020-2024, an average of 19 sleep-related deaths per year.

3-Year Infant Mortality Rates

(Death per 1,000 live births)

Source: Cuyahoga County Board of Health (CCBH)

Notes &Takeaways

  • Overall and Black infant mortality rate (IMR) was the 4th lowest 3-year rate in the past 12 years..
  • Latinx IMR was the highest 3-year rate since 2017-2019.
  • From 2022-2024 Black families were more than 3x as likely to experience an infant loss than white families.

Breakdown of 2024 Births and Deaths by Ethnicity or Race

(Death per 1,000 live births)

Source: CCBH

Notes &Takeaways

  • Black babies accounted for 32% of births and nearly 60% of infant deaths.
  • White babies accounted for 51% of births and nearly 30% of infant deaths.

2020-2024 Preterm Birth Rates

(Babies born before 37 weeks)

Source: Cuyahoga County Board of Health (CCBH)

Notes &Takeaways

  • Prematurity, also known as preterm birth, is when a baby is born before 37 weeks gestation. Currently, prematurity is the #1 cause of infant death in Cuyahoga County, accounting for 38% of all infant deaths from 2022-2024.
  • 11.9% of babies were born premature from 2020-2024.
  • 15.8% of Black babies were born premature from 2020- 2024.

2020-2024 Sleep-Related Deaths

(Death per 1,000 live births)

Source: CCBH

Notes &Takeaways

  • Sleep-related death is the sudden and unexpected death of a baby while sleeping. It is the #1 cause of infant death for babies one- month-old and older.
  • 95 sleep-related deaths occurred from 2020-2024, an average of 19 sleep-related deaths per year.

1995-2024 Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy

(Death per 1,000 live births)

Source: CDC Wonder 2024

Notes &Takeaways

This chart shows a significant increase in Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy in the last 30 years – an 832% increase.