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October 3, 2007New York City's Infant Mortality Rate Declined in 2006 |
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From EurekAlert! - Breaking News: New York City's infant mortality rate -- widely regarded as a barometer of a population's general health -- fell slightly in 2006, the Health Department reported today. In 2006, there were 740 infant deaths (defined as deaths of infants less than a year old) out of 125,506 New York City births. The leading causes of infant death both in New York City and nationally are birth defects, premature birth, and low birth weight. Infant illness and death is more common in babies whose mothers smoke, use alcohol or drugs, or are obese, have diabetes, or have high blood pressure before they become pregnant. New data from the New York City Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System suggest that all of these risk factors are common among NYC women. Over the past three years, Brownsville and Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, along with eastern Jamaica in Queens, have had higher infant death rates than any other neighborhood. Offering a single home visit to all families with new babies in parts of Harlem, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. Through this Newborn Home Visiting Program, Health Department workers assess the safety of the home environment, educate new parents about breastfeeding and safe sleep, and help families access medical care and social services. Providing portable cribs and safe-sleep education through the New York City Safe Sleep Initiative. Have a regular doctor or health care provider to help you stay healthy. Breastfeeding lowers the risk of acquiring infectious diseases that put a new baby at risk of death. PRAMS is conducted annually among New York City residents randomly selected from recent birth certificates.
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