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What's Good

•At $64, the average doctor's office visit here is the 3rd lowest in our survey, compared to a national average of $82.

•According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, El Paso is 26 percent more affordable than average for cities in our survey.

•The CDC reports very low infant mortality rates for Texas.

•Just 2 percent of pregnant women in El Paso admit to smoking during pregnancy, the lowest rate in our survey. Nationwide, 8 percent of pregnant women smoke.

•Air quality here is better here than most cities in our survey. Air quality has been linked to childhood asthma and fertility rates, among other things.

•State laws require health insurance companies to provide or offer at least some coverage for fertility-related services.

•Texas stands out in a measure of legislation related to cord blood education, research and related issues.

•Day-care centers in El Paso are required by state law to meet special requirements aimed at reducing the risk of SIDS. Many cities and states have less-stringent or no SIDS-prevention programs for day-cares.

•El Paso's violent crime rate is 62 percent lower than average, the 2nd lowest in our survey, in fact.

•El Paso has a 41 percent lower property crime rate than average, the 6th lowest in our survey.

•According to the Urban Mobility Report from Texas A&M University, El Paso has one of the best commutes of any city in our survey, it takes only 17 percent longer to drive the same route during rush hour than in free-flowing traffic. That takes a lot of pressure off parents rushing to day care at the end of the day.

Needs Improvement

•14 percent of pregnant women here receive late or inadequate prenatal care. That's the 2nd worst score in our survey, compared to an average of 5 percent.

•34 percent of babies in Texas are born via Cesarean section, among the highest in our survey. The average is 27 percent.

•By six months of age, 67 percent of El Paso babies aren't being breastfed at all. That's the 9th poorest percentage of any city in our report. The average for cities in our survey is 57 percent.

•5.4 percent of El Paso mothers breastfeed their babies exclusively (meaning no solids, formula or other liquids) for 6 months or longer as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, making it the 2nd lowest percentage among cities in our survey. The average for cities in our survey is 12 percent.

•Once El Paso mothers begin breastfeeding, they are 15 percent less likely than average to continue through 6 months. That's the 8th lowest level of follow-through of any city in our report.

•El Paso has one doula for every 3,129 live births, the lowest ratio in our survey. The national average is one doula per 649 live births.

•There are fewer advanced fertility clinics per capita than average here, the 4th lowest ratio in our survey.

•El Paso has fewer OB-GYNs than average, the 6th lowest in our survey.

•Texas devotes less money relative to population than most states to child car-seat-check stations.

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