Announcement
Infant Mortality Awareness Month - September
September 1, 2008

The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is considered the best way to measure the health of a community. It reflects the community’s overall health, health system, education, poverty level and social systems of a community.

There are many important factors in infant health, including the health of the mother - even before becoming pregnant, which are essential in improving birth outcomes.

We also know that assuring safe sleep and reducing risk of SIDS is critical in reducing the deaths of babies older than 27 days.

What’s Happening in
Franklin County, OH 

In Franklin County, 164 babies died before their first birthday in 2006.  That means the death of a baby occurred every 53 hours. 

For the families this is a profound tragedy. For our community, it is a public health crisis.

The Franklin County overall Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) of 9.0 deaths per 1000 live births has not been this high since 1999. We are far from the national goal of 4.5 and black families are seeing 2 ½ times the rate than white families.

Most Franklin County infants die because of ...

• Birth defects (leading cause of infant death in 2006)
• Prematurity and low birth weight (usual leading cause of infant death)
• Unsafe sleep environment (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and infant sleep-related death)
• Maternal complications of pregnancy

What can be done?

• Encourage more women to get early prenatal care and practice family planning.
• Promote smoking cessation and a smoke-free home as a positive prenatal health behavior.
• Model a safe sleeping environment: babies should sleep in a crib or Pack N’ Play on their back without pillows, toys, bumper pads, or blankets.
• Screen women for depression and link them to care when they need it.
• Improve access to health insurance for everyone.
• Promote quality prenatal care.

Reducing Infant Mortality Starts with Women’s Health

• Aim for Good Health Before Getting Pregnant (Preconception Care)
• Get Early and Regular Prenatal Care  
• 9 Questions to Ask Before Getting Pregnant

Once Baby Is Here, Take Steps for A Healthy and Safe Baby

• Safe Sleep for Your Infant
• Keep Your Child Away from Tobacco Smoke (Secondhand Smoke)
• Use a Car Seat and Make Sure It’s Installed Correctly
• Know How to Safely Medicate Your Child

Partners for Healthy Babies

The Council on Healthy Mothers and Babies (COHMB) works to reduce infant mortality by educating service providers and the community about issues affecting infant mortality. 

Caring for 2, a Healthy Start Project, works with community agencies to provide services to pregnant and parenting women in three Columbus neighborhoods to increase access to healthcare and to improve birth outcomes.

Link to Services

• COAT
• Pregnancy Care Connection
• Women's Health Center: Gynecology 
• Women's Health Center: Prenatal Care 
• Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program

Reports & Resources  

• Prenatal Care Capacity in Franklin County, Ohio
• Women’s Health Report, 2005 
• Franklin County Child Fatality Review Annual Report  
• Top 10 Ways for Healthier, Safer Children (Spanish and Somali available) 

More Quick Links

• National Healthy Start Association
• National Institutes of Health - National Research