Montgomery County Health Officials Release ‘Updated Maternal and Infant Health Report,’ with Information and Data Available Online

For Immediate Release: Monday, October 28, 2024

County health officials today released the updated “Report on Maternal and Infant Health for Montgomery County.” The report includes information and data on maternal and infant health topics in the County and identifies the Department of Health and Human Services' (DHHS) role in providing education and services to reduce adverse pregnancy-related outcomes and improve maternal and infant health among County residents.

“Maternal and Infant Health in Montgomery County, Maryland. 2012-2021”  highlights where Montgomery County stands in comparison to Maryland and the nation on maternal and infant health topics.

"Montgomery County’s new report on maternal and infant health shows us the progress we've made and the areas that still need serious attention," said County Executive Marc Elrich. "While we outperform State and national averages, that alone isn’t enough—we’re focused on closing the gaps we see, especially when it comes to outcomes for our non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic communities. This data will drive us to refine and expand our health programs, ensuring that we’re responding to the specific needs across our County. Every mother and child deserves a healthy start, and our commitment is to make that a reality for all families in Montgomery County.”

Report highlights include:

• The County's population has become more diverse over time. The non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic populations have increased while the non-Hispanic White population has decreased.
• The County performs better on most maternal and infant health indicators than Maryland and the U.S.
• Non-Hispanic Blacks have poorer birth outcomes (preterm births, low-weight births, infant/fetal deaths) than other population subgroups.

There is an increasing trend of severe maternal morbidity in the County over time, non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics have higher severe maternal morbidity than other population subgroups.

“DHHS programs play a significant role in providing education and services to reduce adverse pregnancy-related outcomes and improve maternal and infant health in the County,” said Kisha Davis, County health officer.  “The information in this report will help us determine where to enhance services so we can effectively meet the public health needs of Montgomery County residents.”

The report completes a core function of public health surveillance and disseminates information clearly and succinctly. The data can be used to establish evidence-based, innovative practices, conduct policy analysis, drive practice innovation, develop preventative methods, promote health promotion messages and plan activities related to public health. The information brings attention to areas of success and weakness, which stakeholders can analyze to design appropriate programming and interventions to address gaps in outcomes. 

The report is an updated report of ‘Maternal and Infant Health in Montgomery County, 2008-2017’ and serves as a supplement to the ‘Health in Montgomery County 2010-2019, A Surveillance Report on Population Health.”

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Release ID: 24-486
Media Contact: Chunfu Liu
Categories: Health