Preterm birth is the largest contributor to infant deaths in the United States. According to the report from the March of Dimes, rates in Indiana are up to 10.2 percent.

The State Department of Health says parents can reduce the risk of infant mortality by using safe sleep practices. But, recent changes to the state's safe sleep guidelines for licensed childcare providers are causing confusion for some parents.

Teams are encouraged to create data visualizations or analyses to better show the problem.

Indiana has a higher infant mortality rate than the national average. A summit in Indianapolis focused on moves being made to improve outcomes for infants in Indiana.

Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio were among the states cited for rates higher than the national average 5.79 per 1,000 live births.

Gov. Eric Holcomb traveled to northern Indiana Wednesday to sign new legislation that will create a state perinatal program. It aims to address Indianas high infant and maternal mortality rates.

A bill to cover doulas under Medicaid passed the Indiana legislature and was signed into law. The money for the measure, however, was stripped out of the budget in the last days of session.

Gov. Eric Holcomb has signed new legislation to make Indiana the third state to extend Medicaid coverage for doulas, who provide physical and emotional assistance for mothers.

Indiana has the seventh worst infant mortality rate and the third worst maternal mortality rate in the nation. Numerous bills this legislative session aim to address the issue.

The bill recently passed a Senate health committee to establish a Fetal Infant Mortality Review Team that would report to the Indiana State Department of Health.