|
|
 |
|
The
views expressed
on this page are soley those of the author and do not
necessarily
represent the views of County News Online
|
 |
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown
Addressing
Infant Mortality in Ohio
According to humanitarian organization Save the Children, the United
States has the highest first-day death rate for infants among
industrialized countries – more than 11,000 babies die within 24 hours
of their birth each year. It’s unthinkable. And each year in the U.S.,
there are more than 4,600 sudden unexpected infant deaths. What’s worse
– Ohio is near the bottom compared with other states, ranking 48th in
the nation for infant mortality and 50th for infant mortality among
African Americans. In 2012, 1,047 babies died in Ohio before their
first birthday. This is unacceptable.
There are also more than 25,000 stillbirths in the United States every
year. Some of these tragic deaths can be attributed to birth defects,
umbilical cord problems, infections, or a chronic medical condition
suffered by the mother. But, there is no known cause for as many as
half of all stillbirths. Families enduring these heartbreaking losses
are left in the dark.
This week, I visited Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, the
John R. Maloney Family Health and Wellness Center in Columbus, and
Dayton Children’s Hospital to announce a plan to address infant
mortality. I introduced the Sudden Unexpected Death Data Enhancement
and Awareness Act because no parent should have to grieve the loss of a
child with no answers and no help. This legislation would enhance and
standardize a national reporting system to better track stillbirths and
sudden unexpected infant and child deaths, allowing us to better
identify risk factors to prevent them in the future.
Enhanced and coordinated tracking will help us gain a better
understanding of the reason for these heartbreaking deaths and ensure
that all children in Ohio and across the country have every opportunity
to lead healthy and full lives. By working together on all levels –
local, state, and federal – to track these incidents and identify their
causes, we can prevent many stillbirths and sudden unexpected infant
and child deaths and help parents get the answers they deserve.
Sincerely,
Sherrod Brown
U.S. Senator
|
|
|
|
