Baton Rouge, LA – A new brief from the Baton Rouge Area Foundation’s Opportunity Data Project reveals that residents of East Baton Rouge Parish live, on average, to the age of 74, four years shorter than the U.S. average and significantly behind several other Louisiana parishes.
The report was conducted in consultation with local health experts and community health resources. This research determined that more than half of premature deaths in the parish are caused by just five factors: cardiovascular disease, accidents, homicide, infant mortality, and kidney disease. Each of these is far more prevalent locally than in the nation as a whole.
“This is not simply a health care issue—it’s a community issue,” said Chris Meyer, president and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. “Where you live, the safety of your streets, the quality of your schools, and access to healthy food all play a role in how long you live. The good news is, we have clear data and proven solutions to change the trajectory and ensure all our neighbors can enjoy longer, opportunity-filled lives.”
Key findings include:
- Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of early death locally, with rates 60% higher than the national average.
- Accidents, including overdoses and motor vehicle fatalities, occur at rates 80% higher than the U.S. average.
- Homicide rates are 300% higher than the rest of the nation, affecting nearly every age group.
- Infant mortality is 70% higher than the U.S. average, with 40–50 local infants dying each year.
- Kidney Disease is 180% worse than the rest of the nation.
The brief outlines actionable strategies to address these issues, from expanding prenatal and maternal health services to improving street safety, increasing access to addiction treatment, and ensuring healthy food availability for at-risk residents. Closing the gap between local and national averages in just these five causes could reduce East Baton Rouge’s premature death rate by 25%.
“This report isn’t meant to dwell on the problem—it’s meant to point Baton Rouge toward solutions,” said Rhett Morris, partner at Common Good Labs. “Communities across the country have made measurable progress in these areas. Baton Rouge can too.”
The full Opportunity Data Project brief, including detailed findings and recommendations, is available at OpportunityBTR.org/healthy-families.
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About the Baton Rouge Area Foundation: Among the largest community foundations in the country, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation has sought to improve the quality of life in greater Baton Rouge and across south Louisiana since 1964.
The Foundation pursues its mission by serving donors to build the assets that drive initiatives and solutions, supporting local nonprofits to ensure overall impact and sustainability, engaging community leaders to develop appropriate responses to emerging opportunities and challenges, and by partnering with others to leverage collective resources and create the capacity to be a stimulus of positive regional change.
For more information, visit BRAF.org.
About the Opportunity Data Project: ODP is an innovative initiative that leverages advanced data science to drive greater economic opportunity and advance BRAF’s Opportunity Agenda. By using cutting-edge data analysis, BRAF and Common Good Labs are gaining a comprehensive understanding of the systemic challenges in Baton Rouge, allowing for more strategic social and philanthropic efforts that create pathways to economic mobility and long-term prosperity.