Others are for 1999. One reason the Tristate rate has historically been high is a high rate of teen pregnancy, health officials say. Many teens have poor diets, smoke and drink alcohol during pregnancy and lack information about prenantal care. The region's infant mortality rate jumped from 7.5 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1997 to 8.4 deaths. The Tristate's rate of infant death is 17 percent worse than the 7.2 rate nationwide.
Tristate students drop out of school less often than children nationwide.
The median household income in Greater Cincinnati is higher than in the rest of the country. The Tristate's rate of child support collection is also higher. The Tristate continues to grade poorest in juvenile violent crime, a trend juvenile court officials say results from reporting that often counts multiple charges for a single arrest. The number of juvenile homicides fell to a six-year index low of 10 in 1998, down from a high of 36 in 1995. But assault, sex offense and robbery numbers remained consistently high compared to national figures.