[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 129 (Friday, September 21, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1622]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               NATIONAL INFANT MORTALITY AWARENESS MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DONNA F. EDWARDS

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 21, 2012

  Ms. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, September is National Infant Mortality 
Awareness Month, established to highlight the tragedy of infant deaths 
across the nation and to raise awareness about programs that help save 
young lives and ensure our children are healthy. Infant mortality, the 
rate at which babies die before their first birthday per 1,000 live 
births, continues to be a key measure of the nation's health and a 
worldwide indicator of health status and social well-being.
  Although the overall infant mortality rate (IMR) in the United States 
steadily declined for several decades, it has leveled off in recent 
years. Preliminary data indicate that infant mortality rate in this 
nation declined very slightly to 6.14 in 2010.
  Unfortunately, this rate continues to be higher than the Organization 
for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) average and that of 
most European countries. While modest improvements in the infant 
mortality rate, along with a national and local focus on preconception 
health for women of childbearing age, provide welcome changes, much 
work remains to be done.
  In Maryland, infant mortality continues to impact women and families 
at startling rates. For the second year in a row, the infant mortality 
rate in Maryland remained at 6.7. Though a drop from the 7.2 rate of 
2009, the number of infant deaths in the state remains high. Of greater 
concern, is the disproportionate impact infant mortality has on some 
communities.
  In 2011, the infant mortality rate for Prince George's County was 
9.5, while in neighboring Montgomery County, the rate stood at 5.3. 
Though both counties have made significant progress in reducing infant 
mortality in recent years, our collective attention must continue to 
focus on making further gains. Of the state's five regions, the 
National Capital Area, comprising Prince George's and Montgomery 
counties, had the second-highest rate of infant deaths. Only the 
Eastern Shore Area experienced a higher rate at 8.9.
  Across our nation, African American communities experience more than 
double the rate of infant mortality compared to other populations. In 
Maryland, the infant mortality rate among African Americans last year 
was 12.0, fully three times the rate among white infants. Despite 
efforts to address this disturbing gap, high rates of loss occur among 
African Americans of all income and education levels.
  National Infant Mortality Month gives us an opportunity to raise 
public awareness and to educate women about ways they may reduce infant 
mortality. With good preconception health, as well as access to good 
health care during the mother's pregnancy and the early years of the 
child's life, women can work to lower the incidence of infant 
mortality. Research indicates that a number of federal programs may 
reduce the IMR. Programs such as the Maternal and Child Health Block 
Grant and Healthy Start are vital programs tasked with bringing 
awareness to factors that contribute to the nation's high IMR, 
including low birth weight, congenital abnormalities, and sudden infant 
death syndrome.
  With the support of local organizations and services offered in the 
4th Congressional District of Maryland, including the Montgomery County 
Department of Health and Human Services and the Suitland Health and 
Wellness Center, we can advance a number of strategies to reduce infant 
mortality and help mothers and children live long and healthy lives.
  I will continue to support and bring awareness to programs that 
increase access to health care and improve the quality of prenatal and 
newborn care to prevent the causes of infant mortality. As our nation 
recovers from these difficult economic times and families may 
experience gaps in health coverage due to job loss or financial 
instability, it is especially vital that we continue to support 
adequate funding for these programs. We need to ensure that our babies 
get a healthy start and are able to celebrate their first birthday and 
a lifetime of birthdays.

                          ____________________