Genesee County Health Department
Better Life Through Better Health
Release Date:
Sept. 4, 2007
End Date: Sept. 11, 2007
Contact Person:
Marcia Franks
Infant Mortality Supervisor
Genesee County Health Department
Phone: (810)
257-3202
RE:
Infant Mortality Awareness Month
Since the year 2000, 480 babies in Genesee
County died before their first birthday. A disproportionately large
number of those babies were African American. September is National
Infant Mortality Awareness Month, and the Genesee County Health
Department is promoting this month to increase the awareness of the high
rate of infant deaths in our community.
"The United States ranks 23rd
among industrialized nations in babies dying before their first
birthday,” said Robert Pestronk, Director of the Genesee County Health
Department. “I am personally challenging the residents of our community
to become involved in local prevention efforts such as Healthy Start and
REACH 2010 (Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health). “Although
we have seen some improvements in the last two years, there are still
too many babies in Genesee County who do not make it to their first
birthday,” said Pestronk. In Genesee County more than half of the infant
deaths are due to prematurity. The second and third most common causes
of infant deaths are congenital anomalies (or birth defects) and unsafe
sleep situations.
The REACH
2010 project and Healthy Start program, both coordinated by the Health
Department, provide a variety of services and activities throughout the
community aimed at reducing the number of infant deaths especially among
African Americans. REACH 2010 is funded by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) and Healthy Start is funded by the Health Resources and
Services Administration (HRSA). Organizations in partnership on these
projects include FACED, Flint Family Road, Flint Odyssey House – Health
Awareness Center, GCCARD, Genesys Health System, Genesys Home and Hospice
Care, Greater Flint Health Coalition, Hurley Medical Center, Mott Children’s
Health Center, PRIDE, Priority Children, and the University of Michigan –
Flint and Ann Arbor.
Everyone can help Genesee County’s babies be
born healthy by sharing these important tips with the mothers-to-be in their
lives:
Before getting pregnant….
-
See your doctor regularly and address any health
conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity before pregnancy
-
Don’t use alcohol or drugs if there’s a chance you could
become pregnant
-
Take a multi-vitamin
-
See your doctor as soon as you become pregnant
During pregnancy…
-
Don’t use alcohol or drugs – NO AMOUNT of alcohol is safe
during pregnancy
-
Eat a healthy diet and take prenatal vitamins
-
Don’t smoke cigarettes or marijuana
-
Know the signs of preterm labor (lower back pain,
cramping, bleeding, contractions that occur more than 3 weeks before
your due date)
After pregnancy…
-
Space pregnancies at least 18 months apart
-
Take your infant to his/her well baby check-ups
-
Always place your infant to sleep on his/her back, alone,
in a crib or bassinette
To
find out more, contact the Health Department at (810) 341-5239.
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