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For Immediate Release 06/11/08

Lane County Public Health Awarded a March of Dimes Grant to Focus on Reducing Infant Deaths

Contact: Pam Stuver, Lane County Public Maternal and Health Child Health Nurse supervisor, 682-4670

Lane County Public Health was recently awarded a grant for $22,000 from the March of Dimes®, a national non-profit foundation devoted to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.

Grant funds will be used to support the implementation of a Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR), an evidenced-based program that will help identify the causes of and contributors to the high rate of fetal and infant deaths in Lane County. FIMR brings together a community panel of medical providers, social service agencies, public safety providers and others to examine individual cases of infant and fetal deaths. A case summary of each death is prepared using information from a maternal interview and records review. The FIMR team reviews the summaries, examines the circumstances related to each case and identifies social, economic, health, educational, environmental, and safety factors associated with those deaths. Findings from the review process will be used to improve community resources and health service delivery systems for women, infants, and families.

Lane County Public Health worked with the Health Babies, Healthy Communities Initiative to write the grant proposal in response to high rates of fetal and infant deaths in Lane County. Fetal-infant mortality rates report the number of fetal and infant deaths per 1,000 live births and serve as indicators of population health status and well-being around the world.

In 2005, Lane County Public Health staff noted surprising rates of infant deaths in some areas of the county. Further analysis revealed an unacceptably high rate of fetal-infant mortality that was widespread and significant. The 1999-2003 five-year rate of 9.4 deaths per 1,000 live births was found to be higher than Oregon State’s rate (8.0) and the national rate (9.1); higher than the three other largest counties in the state; and higher than the Portland Metro area. Lane County Public Health is committed to addressing this critical public health issue through a collaborative process of investigating potential contributors to fetal-infant mortality in the county and engaging community partners in implementing evidence-based interventions like FIMR.

"There are too many babies dying in Lane County and we need to know why," said Lane County Public Health Maternal and Child Health Nurse Supervisor Pam Stuver, "FIMR is the best tool we have to understand what’s happening in Lane County and what we can do about it."

For more information on the Healthy Babies, Healthy Communities Initiative contact Pam Stuver at 682-4670.

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Amber Fossen
Public Information Officer
Lane County Government
125 E. Eighth Ave.
Eugene, Oregon 97401
(541) 682.3718
(541) 359.9143 (cell)

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