Health Department Working to Reduce Infant Mortalities
There were a total of 378 births to prenatal patients seen through our health centers in 2006; despite the high risk profile of many of these mothers, only 2 infant deaths were identified, resulting in a CHD infant mortality rate of 5.3 deaths per 1000 live births.
In 2005, Hamilton County had an Infant Mortality Rate of 13.9. The majority of these deaths occurred within Cincinnati city limits. Both Ohio, with an IMR of 8.3, and the USA, with an IMR of 6.8, are much lower than Hamilton County, highlighting the importance of addressing the health of women and infants in Cincinnati. As a health care provider for low and middle income patients, including Medicaid and uninsured patients, the Cincinnati Health Department is proud to have achieved an IMR below the national average.
Since 2006, the Cincinnati Health Department has been working on developing a protocol to follow up with prenatal patients soon after delivery to assure that they have found a medical home for themselves and their infants. Now fully operational, the CHD downloads delivery information from the State birth registry and matches this to our patient data, identifying those moms who have given birth since entering prenatal care with us. We then contact those moms who have not returned to us for care to make sure that they and their infants are being seen by a health service provider.
In addition, the CHD has instituted an internal death certificate review process, to identify infant deaths to patients who received prenatal care with us. This process helps us to review all contact with that patient and identify any missed opportunities to better serve and assure the health of the mother and infant. So far, we have been very impressed with diligence and effort of our health care providers and staff.
The Healthy People 2010 goal for Infant Mortality is 4.5 deaths per 1000 live births. At 5.3, the Cincinnati Health Department is well on its way to meeting this goal and bringing Cincinnati closer to the national vision of a healthy community.
