Community members can attend a Sept. 19 walk bringing awareness to infant mortality.
The Saturday event includes prenatal yoga at 10 a.m., followed by a walk at Christ Emmanuel Baptist Church, 5435 E. 34th St. People can bring walking shoes, strollers, bikes, roller blades and skateboards.
The event ends at noon. It is hosted by Indianapolis Healthy Start, a Marion County Public Health Department program that provides education and resources to pregnant women and their families. Refreshments and giveaways will be provided.
Infant mortality is defined as any death that occurs before a baby’s first birthday. According to state health department data from 2023, Marion County’s infant mortality rate is 50% higher than the national average. Cases are driven, in part, by preterm births, low birth weight, unsafe sleep practices and pregnancy complications.
There’s disparities within the data from Indianapolis: Black babies in Central Indiana are more than two times as likely to die than white babies. Research points to a lack of access to prenatal care and higher rates of preterm births, which are associated with high blood pressure, infections and substance use.
Several organizations across Indianapolis are working to lower infant mortality. That includes Cradle Indy, a nonprofit that connects new moms with doulas and community support.
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Mirror Indy reporter Mary Claire Molloy covers health. Reach her at 317-721-7648 or email maryclaire.molloy@mirrorindy.org. Follow her on X @mcmolloy7.
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