The infant mortality rate in African-American babies in Seminole County is an alarming 17.1 per 1,000 births, the Florida Department of Health said Tuesday. This sky high African-American infant mortality rate compares with 6.0 in 2012 per 1,000 live births in Florida.
“One infant death is one too many in this community especially when these are preventable deaths”, said Dr. Swannie Jett, Health Officer of the Department of Health in Seminole County. “Seminole County has great partnerships on many health related issues and this is another opportunity for us to take a holistic approach to health by developing a greater understanding of the impact of our living environments and work environments to improve the lives of mothers and newborns.”
Social and economic disparities widen the health gradient and the Seminole County Health Department said, a multifaceted approach will be adopted to help tackle the too high infant mortality rate in African-American babies. These are: emphasizing the importance of eating healthy while pregnant; promoting prenatal care in the first trimester; promoting safe sleep environments; and addressing the social determinants of health to improve the quality of life for newborns.
Several other risk factors can contribute to infant mortality including: late prenatal care, being overweight, smoking, substance abuse, poor nutrition, domestic violence, pre-term labor, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
