Burr leads group in raising awareness about infant mortality

Sens. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) recently led a bipartisan effort in the senate to increase awareness about infant mortality and access to prenatal care in the U.S.

Resolution S.Res.258, passed unanimously by the Senate, commemorated September as National Infant Mortality Awareness Month. In addition, the senators called on the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as other entities, to spread awareness of the contributing factors of infant mortality and critical prevention efforts meant to reduce the number of infant deaths.

“Community-based programs, such as outreach, home visitation, case management and health education may help substantially reduce infant mortality,” Burr said. “This resolution is a small way to recognize and support efforts to reduce infant deaths, low birth weight, pre-term births, and disparities in perinatal outcomes through continued education about infant mortality and the contributing factors.”

Approximately 500,000 infants are born prematurely in the U.S. every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with an estimated 25,0000 infant deaths prior to their first birthday.

The National Healthy Start Association, which supports more than 100 Healthy Start projects nationwide, reports that even though infant mortality in the U.S. has been reduced of late, disparities still exist between caucasians and minorities.

“Infant mortality among African American women is more than twice that of white women,” the National Healthy Start Association said. “Low birthweight among African American women is more than twice that of white women. For Hispanics and Native Americans, the infant mortality and low birthweight rates are significantly higher than that of the white population.”