Best and worst states for babies noted
<p class="p1">Having a baby is an expensive proposition, and according to A new poll, Louisiana is one of the worst states in the nation to have one.</p><p class="p3">The poll, by WalletHub, ranked our state at No. 48 in “2018’s Best & Worst States to Have a Baby.” Why does Louisiana rank so poorly?</p><p class="p3">The poll ranked all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. The criteria for comparison was cost, health care, baby friendliness and family friendliness. Each of the categories have numerous sub-categories.</p><p class="p3">Here’s how Louisiana ranked in each category: total score rank, 30.57; cost-No. 1 (best in nation); health care, 51 (worst in nation); baby friendliness, 32; and family-friendliness, 42.</p><p class="p3">Obviously it is health care, which has the highest score weight among the categories, that drags Louisiana so far down on the list. That’s the big one the Pelican State needs to work on the most.</p><p class="p3">In the sub-categories, Louisiana was No. 48 in Highest Infant-Mortality; 47 for having among the Fewest Midwives & OB-GYNs per Capita; and 49 for having among the Fewest Pediatricians & Family Doctors per Capita.</p><p class="p3">But on the positive side, Louisiana was No. 2 in the nation for having among the Lowest Average Annual Infant-Care Costs.</p><p class="p3">It was surprising Louisiana ranked so poorly on family friendliness, since our state is so family-oriented and in many ways very family-friendly.</p><p class="p3">But WalletHub said it based that category on its “Best and Worst States to Raise a Family” ranking. In that poll, Louisiana ranked over all at 46, but was 50th in socio-economics; 49th in health and safety; 48th in affordability; and 44th in education and childcare. Its best ranking in that poll was 16th in family fun.</p><p class="p3">Louisiana was joined at the bottom in the baby poll by West Virginia; 46; Oklahoma, 47; South Carolina, 49; Alabama, 50; and Mississippi, 51.</p><p class="p3">The top five places to have a baby were Vermont, 1; Massachusetts, 2; Minnesota, 3; New Hampshire, 4; and North Dakota, 5.</p><p class="p3">While we can ignore such unflattering polls for Louisiana as meaningless or unfair, we would do well to find ways to improve our state for the well-being of our citizens, especially in the health care category. </p>