Genesee County Health Department
Better Life Through Better Health
Date: November 24, 2010
Release Date: Immediate Release
End Date: November 30, 2010
Contact Person: Marcia Franks, Infant Mortality
Supervisor
Phone: (810) 257-3202
RE: November Marks Prematurity Awareness Month
More than half a million babies are born too soon
each year and thousands don’t live to celebrate their first birthday.
Preterm birth (born more than 3 weeks before due date) is a serious health
problem and the leading cause of newborn death. Babies who survive often
face the risk of lifetime health challenges including physical and learning
disabilities. During November, which is Prematurity Awareness Month, the
Genesee County Health Department encourages residents to learn more about
the seriousness of premature birth, and celebrate, honor or remember a baby
in their life at the March of Dimes web site:
marchofdimes.com/fight.
Between the years of 2000-2008, 583 babies died
before their first birthday in Genesee County. More than half of these
infant deaths were due to premature birth and a disproportionately large
number of infants were African American.
The Genesee County Healthy Start program and the
REACH U.S. (Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health) project
supports the Prematurity Awareness Month campaign and both aim to reduce
infant deaths by addressing risk factors such as prematurity. Healthy Start
and REACH program advocates provide support to African American women and
infants with information on healthy pregnancies, encouraging early and
continued pre-natal care, and promoting healthy behaviors that can reduce
premature birth, low birth weight and infant mortality. For information
about Prematurity Awareness Month or programs for moms and babies in Genesee
County visit our webpage at:
gchd.us/babies.
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