Traverse City Record-Eagle

Archive: Tuesday

April 3, 2012

State takes aim at infant mortality rates

Many areas in northern Michigan lack delivery facilities

By SAODAT ASANOVA-TAYLOR Special to the Record-Eagle

LANSING — Infant mortality rates continue to rise across the state, but the state is implementing a plan that could reduce deaths and disparities based on geography, socioeconomic issues and race.

The Department of Community Health last fall convened a summit to identify strategies to reduce and prevent infant deaths. Based on recommendations from politicians, health specialists and community leaders, the department developed a plan to reduce the infant mortality rate.

Angela Minicuci, a department spokeswoman, said the new plan will work to reduce unintended pregnancies by making family services available and implementing a system to ensure all women deliver at locations that best serve their specific needs.

It also will improve efforts to prevent teen pregnancies.

Department of Community Health data shows that in 2008, the infant mortality rate was 7.4 percent per 1,000 live births, but in 2009 it rose to 7.5, and in 2010 continued to rise to 7.7.

The major cause of infant mortality is premature births, which are at a higher rate than the national average, department officials said.

Jane Zehnder-Merrell, a senior research associate at the Michigan League for Human Services, said a variety of factors contribute to the increase of premature or pre-term births.

Infant mortality reflects overall health problems in the state, and socioeconomic factors play a big role, she said.

"Mothers who don't have insurance or those with too high of an income are put in a stressful position," she said. "They have to find a provider and make an appointment and the whole process can take months," she said.

Michigan also has high disparities in infant mortality rate based on race.

In 2009, the rate per 1,000 live births among Caucasians was 5.4, among African-Americans 15.5 and among others 6.6, according to the Department of Community Health.

Kit Mikovitz, personal health administrator at the Grand Traverse County Health Department, said many areas in northern Michigan don't have facilities for delivery.

"We have people coming to us from Cheboygan, Alpena and other areas. It takes up to an hour. If the mother is at risk and far away, we can't really help her until the ambulance arrives," Mikovitz said.

And researchers continue to study how to reduce the infant mortality rate, in particular pre-term births.

A study by the National Institutes of Health and Wayne State University determined performing a cervical ultrasound to identify pregnant women with a short cervix and then using vaginal progesterone treatments reduces premature births.

Sonia Hassan, associate dean for maternal, perinatal and child health care at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, said it's important physicians and health care professionals tell patients about the test to identify whether they are at risk for premature births.

Saodat Asanova-Taylor writes for Michigan State University's Capital News Service.

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