FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 4, 2007
S.C. 2005 infant death rate 9.5
COLUMBIA – South Carolina's infant mortality rate was 9.5 deaths for each 1,000 live births during 2005, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control said today.
"Of 57,538 babies born in 2005, 549 died before their first birthday,” according to Guang Zhao, director of DHEC’s Office of Public Health Statistics and Information Services. “While deaths from premature births and low birth weight continued to be the leading causes, those rates dropped for the second year in a row. Congenital malformations and SIDS, otherwise known as sudden infant death syndrome, were the second and third leading causes of infant deaths for our state.”
Zhao said the state’s death rate for infants during their first 27 days of life in 2005 improved significantly.
“The overall neonatal mortality rate in South Carolina dropped by 7.8 percent and the rate for blacks and other racial groups at 9.2 per 1,000 live births was the lowest ever recorded,” he said. “This decrease can be attributed to fewer deaths due to prematurity, low birthweight and congenital malformations.”
Zhao said a study done by the State Child Fatality Advisory Committee found that some of the deaths attributed to SIDS could have been prevented through better sleep environments.
“Many of the reported SIDS deaths, as well as deaths from suffocation, may be prevented by using safe sleeping practices recommended in DHEC’s Back to Sleep campaign,” he said. “The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends infants be placed for sleep on their backs, on a firm sleep surface such as a crib mattress covered by a sheet. Soft objects such as pillows, comforters, bumper pads, stuffed toys as well as loose bedding should be kept out of the crib. It’s also important to avoid overheating the infant with extra blankets and clothing. An infant should not be exposed to cigarette smoke.”
“We are encouraged by the improvement in the 2005 neonatal death rate for blacks and other races but we should not lose sight of the fact that the overall infant mortality rate of 14.3 infant deaths per 1,000 live births for this group is more than twice the rate of 7.0 for white babies,” said DHEC Commissioner Earl Hunter. “Eliminating this disparity must continue to be a top public health priority. The complexity of the infant mortality problem requires everyone to work together to reduce the infant death rate and eliminate disparities.”
Hunter said having a healthy baby starts with good health even before a woman becomes pregnant.
“Have a check up and talk with your doctor about ways to get ready for a healthy pregnancy,” he said. “See your health care provider as soon as you think you are pregnant and have check ups often. This is the best way to care for both your health and the health of your baby.”
Zhao said the 2005 rate of 9.5 was a small increase from 2004’s rate of 9.3 deaths per 1,000 live births.
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NOTE TO EDITORS:
For a complete breakout of the data using DHEC’s South Carolina Community Assessment system, please go to our web site at http://www.scdhec.gov/co/phsis/biostatistics/index.asp?page=bio, and the S.C. BIBS website at http://www.scdhec.gov/health/mch/scbibs/. Referral to health care providers is available by calling DHEC’s Care Line at 1-800-868-0404.
For more information:
Brenda Martin – (803) 898-3780
E-mail – martinby@dhec.sc.gov
Thom Berry – (803) 898-3885
E-mail — berrytw@dhec.sc.gov
BNR1804