Background Infant mortality is defined by the CDC as the death of an infant less than one year old. This is a critical indicator of the well being of a community. How well are the most vulnerable members of society protected?

Leading causes of infant deaths in Virginia Disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight Congenital Anomalies Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Maternal Complications of Pregnancy

Contributing Factors Maternal health - women are not physically healthy when they become pregnant. (poor health status throughout life) The perinatal system of care - women under-utilize perinatal care. (complicated, fragmented service delivery system) Health behaviors - failure to use contraception to prevent unwanted pregnancy, smoking, drinking alcohol, using drugs, sexually transmitted diseases, etc.

Contributing Factors (cont) Dangerous sleeping environments - co- sleeping, over bundled, suffocation Infections - few babies are breast fed (breastfeeding increases a childs immune system) Injuries - child abuse and neglect

Other Contributing Factors Barriers to Care The Institute of Medicine suggest that barriers to care are structural, financial and personal in nature Structural barriers are things such as the location of facilities Financial barriers are related to the cost of care Personal barriers focus on the issue of trust between the client and provider Minority populations are disproportionately affected by all three types of barriers.