Dickinson-Iron County Critical Health Indicators
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Infant Mortality
What Is It?
Infant mortality measures the number of deaths to children under the age of one. The rates are expressed as deaths per 1,000 live births. Infants with low birth weight or pre-term delivery have a higher risk of infant death. Socioeconomic status, lifestyle behaviors, prenatal care, and medical care all have an impact on infant mortality.
How are Dickinson and Iron Counties doing?
In Dickinson and Iron counties, the infant mortality rate is 6.8. There is a low incidence of infant death in both counties, partially due to the low numbers of births. The Kids Count in Michigan 2000 Data Book indicates 2 deaths in Dickinson and none in Iron County in 2000.
Click on the link below to review past history of infant deaths in Dickinson and Iron Counties:
http:\\www.mdch.state.mi.us/PHA/OSR/CHI/InfantMortality/lhds/trd11.html
How is the State of Michigan doing?
In 2000, there were 1,112 infant deaths in Michigan, resulting in an infant mortality rate of 8.2 per 1,000 live births a slight increase from 1,071 in 1999 or 8.0 per 1,000 live births. During the past 10 years, the state's infant mortality rate declined 26 percent.
How does the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department compare with the State of Michigan and the U.S.?
The DIDHD's infant mortality rate has always been below the state and national average. The national recommended goal rate is 4.5 per 1,000 live births by the year 2010.
What other information is important to know?
Leading causes of infant death are congenital anomalies, disorders relating to prematurity and low birth weight, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), problems related to complications during pregnancy and childbirth, respiratory distress syndrome, infections, and injuries. Two-thirds of infant deaths occur within the first 28 days of life.
Children born to mothers who smoke or use tobacco during their pregnancy have higher than average infant mortality rates.
What is the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department doing to affect this indicator?
The Health Department, in cooperation with the Dickinson and Iron Counties Multi-Purpose Collaborative Boards, has initiated a dual county Prevention subcommittee that has focused on the combined prevention needs of five active subgroups. These collaborative efforts (Dickinson-Iron Healthy Youth Coalition, IMPETUS Zero to Three, Early On (ICC), Children's Advocacy Network (CAN) and the PIE 0-5 Initiative). These groups have joined forces with the Prevention subcommittee to develop a five year strategic plan to provide a thorough community assessment and support network for parents.
Local Maternal and Infant Support Services (MSS/ISS), through contracts with the Michigan Department of Community Health, offer services to Medicaid-eligible pregnant women and infants. The mother and infant receive support services from a nurse, social worker, and nutritionist. The department also informs the public and providers about measures to reduce the risk of SIDS through the Sudden Infant Death Prevention program.
The IMPETUS project serves to provide the primary service of in-home nursing visits to income eligible or at-risk families to supplement the MSS/ISS program. Secondary services include the introduction to a Welcome Newborn Grid of relevant materials and disseminated in a nursing contact in the hospital, a newsletter series received monthly the first year called Parenting the First Year and a continuation semi-monthly newsletter for the children's second and third year. Additional resources include a Family Prevention Suitcase with a variety of educational materials and practical parenting aids like first aid kits, temperature gauges, recipes, medicine measures, etc.
The department, through a contract with the Intermediate School District and the Early On program, also provides a variety of services by its' nursing and social work staff.
The department provides training for health professionals and other service providers, such as those working with pregnant women, to recognize and treat nicotine addiction. Prenatal smoking cessation training teaches providers a method that assesses a client's stage of readiness to quit and offers support and education according to the woman's status. The program includes educational and motivational tools to support cessation.
One of the newest programs which involves the Department's participation is the Parent Involvement in Education 0-5 grant through the Department of Education. The DIDHD is again being contracted to provide in-home nursing visits, but under this grant, any parent of a 0-5 child is eligible for this service regardless of income or at-risk designation. The department also provides parenting education services and assistance with playgroups. The PIE initiative will increase substantially the services that are provided to the general 0-5 population and will build on the Health Departments commitment to the Youth Asset Development model it introduced to the community and continues to co-facilitate.
The department is also participating on The Child Death Review Team in both Dickinson and Iron Counties. Chaired by a volunteer, the Review Team will systematically examine all child deaths to determine the contributing factors. These factors are analyzed to determine if steps can be taken to prevent future deaths.
In addition, all newborns born in Michigan are tested for seven potentially fatal and/or debilitating diseases. Appropriate treatment can be rendered through testing and accurate diagnosis.