[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 153 (Wednesday, October 30, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1610-E1611]
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

                      Wednesday, October 30, 2013

  Ms. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, last month was National Infant Mortality 
Awareness Month. With the theme A Healthy Baby Begins with You and You 
and You, the month is established to highlight the tragic occurrences 
of infant deaths across the nation, and to bring attention to programs 
that can help save lives and ensure our children are healthy. Measured 
as a rate of infant deaths per 1,000 live births, infant mortality 
refers to deaths that occurred during infancy, in the first year of 
life, or from a live birth to age one.
  Not all infant deaths are preventable, but with the passage of the 
Affordable Care Act (ACA), we can begin to reduce the risk of infant 
death. The ACA is an investment in both the health of women and the 
health of newborns. Health care for women, preconception health, 
reproductive health, and maternity and well child care are covered 
benefits. One in five women of childbearing age is currently uninsured. 
With the enactment of this law, approximately 17 million women will 
have an increased opportunity to access and receive regular preventive 
services and prenatal care.
  Although the overall infant mortality rate (IMR) in the United States 
declined steadily for several decades, it has leveled off for the past 
several years. In 2011, the rate of infant deaths before age one for 
the U.S. was 6.05 per 1,000 live births. According to the Centers for 
Disease Control & Prevention, the U.S. IMR continues to be higher than 
the rates in most other developed countries, and the gap between the 
U.S. IMR and the rates for the countries with the lowest infant 
mortality appears to be widening.
  In Maryland, infant mortality profoundly impacts women and their 
families. The most recent Maryland Vital Statistics numbers indicate an 
overall IMR in our State of 6.3 in 2012. The average IMR dropped from 
9.5 to 8.6 in Prince George's County during 2012, while it rose from 
5.1 in 2011 to 6.4 in 2012 in Anne Arundel County.
  While Prince George's County experienced a decline in the African-
American IMR last year--from 10.5 to 9.3--the rate remains 
significantly higher than the white IMR of 6.4. Likewise, while Anne 
Arundel County experienced a steep drop in the African-American IMR--
from 13.0 in 2011 to 9.0 in 2012--the rate remains nearly double that 
of the white rate, which in 2012 increased to 5.5. And, in nearby 
Montgomery County, the IMR was reduced to 5.1 last year but the 
African-American rate stood at 8.2, almost double the rate for white 
infants at 4.2. This alarming and ongoing disparity across our region 
challenges us to continue seeking answers and solutions.
  National Infant Mortality Month provides us a chance to raise public 
education and awareness about the levels at which this problem 
continues to affect our communities, and to educate women about ways 
they may reduce infant mortality with good health care during the 
mother's pregnancy and the early years of the child's life. A number of 
federal programs strive to reduce the IMR, by improving the

[[Page E1611]]

health status of low-income women and children. These federal programs 
include Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grants, Medicaid, and 
Healthy Start. Local organizations and clinics like Bright Beginnings 
of Prince George's County, Mary's Center, Anne Arundel County 
Department of Health, and Storks Nest in Anne Arundel County, and 
Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services and SMILE in 
Montgomery County offer a number of approaches 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 
improve access to health care and increase the quality of prenatal and 
newborn care to prevent the causes of infant mortality. Communities can 
play an important role in this endeavor by encouraging women to seek 
care before they become pregnant and during their first trimester. 
Also, we can all share information about some of the factors that 
affect infant mortality including smoking, substance abuse, poor 
nutrition, lack of prenatal care, and sudden infant death syndrome. We 
must ensure that our babies get a healthy start, to celebrate their 
first birthday and beyond, and bring much needed attention and 
awareness to the importance of reducing our infant mortality rate.

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