This decrease can be attributed to a number of factors, including advances in science and technology, which have enabled us to save the lives of babies who are born prematurely or who develop dangerous conditions while still in the womb. While we are justly proud of these advances and of the excellent standards of care provided in our Nation's neonatal intensive care units, we know that there is still much work to do. Several important indicators of maternal and child health, such as incidence of low birth weight and receipt of prenatal care, have not shown desired improvements. Moreover, the percentage of babies born to teenage mothers and the number of pregnant women who used one or more illegal substances during their pregnancies have increased. Although government cannot fulfill the primary responsibility of parents in caring for their children, officials at the Federal, State, and local levels have been working with health care professionals and other members of the private sector to help pregnant women protect the lives of their unborn children through proper nutrition and prenatal care.
Prenatal care is especially important for women who are at increased medical or social risk.
Today, for example, black infants have twice the risk of dying before their first birthday than do white infants. By expanding access to quality prenatal care and other family support services, we will alleviate tremendous human suffering and ensure that every child receives the best possible start in life. In addition, because the cost of preventive care is much less than the cost of caring for infants with low birth weight and other health problems, our efforts have the potential to produce substantial economic savings. As part of our national campaign to improve maternal and child health, we have launched the Healthy Start program, a pilot project designed to bring needed information and services to pregnant women and to cut existing rates of infant mortality by half in 15 high-risk areas. Our goal is to develop innovative programs that work, and then replicate them in other American communities.