West Virginia historically and currently suffers from poorer health outcomes than the rest of the country, ranking 49th in the nation in physical health and 50th in premature death and multiple chronic conditions including asthma, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. West Virginia also has the highest drug overdose mortality rate in the nation. These problems have not spared our pregnant population, contributing to widespread poor perinatal health outcomes.

 

Infant Mortality and Morbidity

Preterm birth and low birthweight are major contributing factors to infant mortality. West Virginia ranks 47th in the nation for preterm births and 42nd for low birthweight. Given these statistics, many of WV’s infants start life at high risk for morbidity and mortality. WV’s low birthweight rate is significantly higher than the national average, and The March of Dimes grades WV preterm birth rate as an “F” – one of only 6 states with this unfortunate distinction. Overall, WV has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the nation.

 

Disparities

In a state with poor health outcomes, it is no surprise that health disparities exist among the state’s residents from racial and ethnic minority groups as well as those experiencing poverty. While West Virginia is significantly racially homogeneous (93.5% of the state’s population is white), instances of low birth weight and preterm birth are higher among people from racial and ethnic minority groups. West Virginians experiencing poverty face similar disparities (15.8% of the state’s residents are experiencing poverty compared to 11.4% nationwide). Nearly half of all births to WV residents are covered by Medicaid and approximately 20% of residents who give birth have less than a high school education.