Infant Mortality Update at Statehouse -- 9.27.2012
COLUMBUS PUBLIC HEALTH -- Media Advisory
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Infant Mortality Update to be Released at Statehouse “All Babies Matter” Event
Health and Social Service Professionals to Offer Solutions to Reduce Infant Deaths
WHAT
Health and social service professionals will join government officials, legislators and the general public to release an infant mortality update and to offer solutions to prevent infant deaths at the “All Babies Matter” public awareness event.
WHO
Dr. Teresa Long, Health Commissioner, Columbus Public Health; Dr. Theodore Wymyslo, Director, Ohio Department of Health; Dr. Arthur James, Faculty, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and Senior Policy Advisor, Ohio Department of Health Bureau of Child and Family Services; Wanda Dillard, Executive Board President, Council on Healthy Mothers and Babies, and Director of Community Development, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center; Charleta Tavares, Senator, Ohio Senate District 15; Paula Brooks, President, Franklin County Board of Commissioners; Priscilla Tyson, Council Member, Columbus City Council; Nathan Hurd, Founder, BabyWill.org; and, Laquesta Wadsworth, Parent Participant, Healthy Start.
WHEN
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Noon-1 p.m.
WHERE
The Ohio Statehouse – South Side Plaza
1 Capital Square, Columbus
BACKGROUND
The U.S. has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world for an industrialized nation. The State of Ohio also has the 11th highest rate of infant deaths in the country, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. In Franklin County, 150 babies die each year – nearly three babies each week. Black babies are at greater risk of dying before their first birthday with a mortality rate that is twice as high as White babies. Preterm births/low birth weight and sleep related deaths are the two leading causes of infant mortality. Many sleep related deaths can be prevented by placing babies to sleep on their backs in their own crib, bassinet or cradle. The Infant Mortality Brief highlights trends, disparities and the leading causes of infant deaths in Franklin County.
MORE INFO
The complete Infant Mortality Brief and the Sleep-Related Infant Death Brief are available online. For more information, visit Columbus Public Health at publichealth.columbus.gov or on Facebook / Twitter / YouTube.
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