Post by blackcrowheart on Feb 6, 2006 11:05:15 GMT -5
American Indian babies
Still too many SIDS deaths
American Indian babies
By Mary Garrigan, Journal Staff Writer
www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2006/02/06/news/body_mind/new
s933.txt
The good news about infant health in South Dakota is that deaths from
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome fell in 2004, according to the state
Department of Health.
The bad news is that too many of the state's babies, especially its
American Indian babies, are still dying of other causes before their
first birthday.
There were 93 infant deaths in South Dakota in 2004, or a rate of 8.2
per 1,000 live births, according to the annual Vital Statistics and
Health Status Report from the Department of Health. That's well above
the United States rate of 6.6 infant deaths per 1,000 live births for
the same year.
South Dakota saw its highest number of births in 17 years in 2004,
with 11,339 babies born. But its infant mortality rate for 2004 was
the highest it has been since 1999.
The infant mortality rate for Indians in South Dakota was double that
of whites, 13.3 per 1,000 live births compared to 6.9.
Jacqueline Left Hand Bull, an administrative officer of Northern
Plains Healthy Start in Rapid City, said the maternal and child
health program that serves 18 Indian tribes in a four-state region is
making a difference in the fight against SIDS and high infant
mortality rates among Indian people.
Created in 1992, Healthy Start provides case management services to
between 1,000 and 2,000 of the highest-risk mothers annually,
depending on funding levels. Its 37 field workers help expectant and
new mothers navigate the health care system, access services and
arrange transportation needs. They also provide education on
childbirth, infant care and SIDS prevention and mentoring on breast
feeding, smoking cessation and drug and alcohol addictions.
Healthy Start is on the front lines in the war against SIDS and, in
2004 at least, it won the battle, Left Hand Bull said.
"In 2004, there were no SIDS deaths among our program participants,"
she said. "It was a joyous occasion to be able to tell our staff that
there were no SIDS deaths among all the women we served."
Healthy Start teaches new moms that overblanketing an infant in a
crib or carrier (see related story) can lead to overheating, which is
associated with SIDS. Healthy Start also promotes the use of
cradleboards for babies, a traditional Lakota childcare device that
can keep babies safe from many dangers, including overheating.
"We did a video about SIDS prevention that's culturally relevant,"
Left Hand Bull said. The video, titled "SIIDS — Saving Indian Infants
from Dying in their Sleep" uses a "positive cultural lens" to convey
education and information about all the known risk factors that are
associated with SIDS, Left Hand Bull said.
According to state Health Secretary Doneen Hollingsworth, the data
points to tobacco use and lack of early prenatal care as major risk
factors for low birth weight and pregnancy complications which can
result in infant death. The infant mortality rate of babies born to
mothers who used tobacco during pregnancy was much higher than for
non-users, 12.8 deaths per 1,000 compared to 7.2 for infants whose
mother did not use tobacco.
There was also a strong link between early prenatal care and a lower
infant mortality rate. The lowest infant mortality rate was among
mothers who started prenatal care in their first trimester, 6.9 per
1,000 live births. The highest rate, 59.4, was among mothers who had
no prenatal care.
Healthy Start is one of the programs administered through the Tribal
Chairmen's Health Board. It is currently awaiting news of funding for
the next four years.
Hollingsworth said the department's 2010 initiative calls for
reducing the state's infant mortality rate to 6.0 and eliminating the
disparity between the Indian and white populations.
The state said it will create an ad hoc working group of health
professionals to look at the causes of infant mortality in the state
and recommend measures to reverse the trend.
Still too many SIDS deaths
American Indian babies
By Mary Garrigan, Journal Staff Writer
www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2006/02/06/news/body_mind/new
s933.txt
The good news about infant health in South Dakota is that deaths from
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome fell in 2004, according to the state
Department of Health.
The bad news is that too many of the state's babies, especially its
American Indian babies, are still dying of other causes before their
first birthday.
There were 93 infant deaths in South Dakota in 2004, or a rate of 8.2
per 1,000 live births, according to the annual Vital Statistics and
Health Status Report from the Department of Health. That's well above
the United States rate of 6.6 infant deaths per 1,000 live births for
the same year.
South Dakota saw its highest number of births in 17 years in 2004,
with 11,339 babies born. But its infant mortality rate for 2004 was
the highest it has been since 1999.
The infant mortality rate for Indians in South Dakota was double that
of whites, 13.3 per 1,000 live births compared to 6.9.
Jacqueline Left Hand Bull, an administrative officer of Northern
Plains Healthy Start in Rapid City, said the maternal and child
health program that serves 18 Indian tribes in a four-state region is
making a difference in the fight against SIDS and high infant
mortality rates among Indian people.
Created in 1992, Healthy Start provides case management services to
between 1,000 and 2,000 of the highest-risk mothers annually,
depending on funding levels. Its 37 field workers help expectant and
new mothers navigate the health care system, access services and
arrange transportation needs. They also provide education on
childbirth, infant care and SIDS prevention and mentoring on breast
feeding, smoking cessation and drug and alcohol addictions.
Healthy Start is on the front lines in the war against SIDS and, in
2004 at least, it won the battle, Left Hand Bull said.
"In 2004, there were no SIDS deaths among our program participants,"
she said. "It was a joyous occasion to be able to tell our staff that
there were no SIDS deaths among all the women we served."
Healthy Start teaches new moms that overblanketing an infant in a
crib or carrier (see related story) can lead to overheating, which is
associated with SIDS. Healthy Start also promotes the use of
cradleboards for babies, a traditional Lakota childcare device that
can keep babies safe from many dangers, including overheating.
"We did a video about SIDS prevention that's culturally relevant,"
Left Hand Bull said. The video, titled "SIIDS — Saving Indian Infants
from Dying in their Sleep" uses a "positive cultural lens" to convey
education and information about all the known risk factors that are
associated with SIDS, Left Hand Bull said.
According to state Health Secretary Doneen Hollingsworth, the data
points to tobacco use and lack of early prenatal care as major risk
factors for low birth weight and pregnancy complications which can
result in infant death. The infant mortality rate of babies born to
mothers who used tobacco during pregnancy was much higher than for
non-users, 12.8 deaths per 1,000 compared to 7.2 for infants whose
mother did not use tobacco.
There was also a strong link between early prenatal care and a lower
infant mortality rate. The lowest infant mortality rate was among
mothers who started prenatal care in their first trimester, 6.9 per
1,000 live births. The highest rate, 59.4, was among mothers who had
no prenatal care.
Healthy Start is one of the programs administered through the Tribal
Chairmen's Health Board. It is currently awaiting news of funding for
the next four years.
Hollingsworth said the department's 2010 initiative calls for
reducing the state's infant mortality rate to 6.0 and eliminating the
disparity between the Indian and white populations.
The state said it will create an ad hoc working group of health
professionals to look at the causes of infant mortality in the state
and recommend measures to reverse the trend.