Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. A new report from the March of Dimes shows Oklahoma continues to lag behind national averages in key maternal and infant health metrics, placing the state among the lowest-performing in the country. The annual scorecard ranks Oklahoma 46th in infant mortality, with 341 infants dying before their first birthday in 2023. The report also highlights significant disparities, noting the death rate for babies born to Black mothers is 1.7 times higher than the statewide average.
The most common causes of infant mortality include birth defects, preterm or low birth weight, sudden unexpected infant death and accidental injuries. In maternal health, Oklahoma ranks 31st, with more than 27 deaths per 1,000 births occurring within six weeks of pregnancy due to complications.
The state’s preterm birth rate remained stagnant at 11 percent, placing Oklahoma 37th nationally. Major cities performed similarly: Oklahoma City received a “D-” grade with an 11.2 percent preterm birth rate, while Tulsa received an “F” at 11.9 percent.
The report also found that more than 14 percent of births involved inadequate prenatal care, defined as starting prenatal visits after the fifth month or attending fewer than half of recommended appointments. Nearly half of all births in the state—about 23,700—were covered by SoonerCare, Oklahoma’s Medicaid program.
While Oklahoma has implemented several recommended policies, including Medicaid expansion, doula reimbursement and maternal mortality review committees, the state has not adopted paid family leave or mandatory postpartum depression screening for Medicaid patients.
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