DHR reports improved health of Georgia’s mothers and children
The Georgia Department of Human Resources' "Maternal and Child Health in Georgia: Birth through Age 5" shows that the health of Georgia's mothers and children has improved since 1997's "Challenge of Change: A Mid-Decade Look at Maternal and Child Health in Georgia" was released.
Since 1997's report:
• The infant mortality rate decreased 10 percent from 9.4 to 8.5 infant deaths per 1,000 live births between 1995 and 2001.
• The perinatal mortality rate decreased 50 percent from 16.0 to 8.0 deaths per 1,000 live births between 1995 and 2001.
• The pregnancy rate among teens 15 to 17 years old decreased 33 percent from 66.2 per 1,000 in 1995 to 44.4 in 2001. For teens 18 to 19 years old, the pregnancy rate decreased 13 percent from 146.7 per 1,000 in 1995 to 127.3 in 2001.
• The percent of unintended pregnancies decreased from 47.5 percent in 1995 to 41.5 percent in 2000.
"These data show us that a great deal of progress has been made, but there is still work to be done," said Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H., director of the DHR Division of Public Health.
"The report and the progress in the areas of infant and child health show the critical role that state and local partners and leaders have played, and continue to play, in addressing these core health issues," Toomey added.
The new interactive report, "Maternal and Child Health in Georgia: Birth through Age 5," is available on compact disk, and provides data and analyses of maternal and child health trends, highlights of successful programs, offers tools for advocates, and provides recommendations to improve health outcomes for mothers and young children.
The DHR Division of Public Health partnered with more than 10 agencies, including the Governor's Council on Maternal and Infant Health, the four Georgia Healthy Start initiatives, the Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia, the Georgia Public Health Association, and the March of Dimes Georgia Chapter to produce the report.
Since this report is electronic and interactive, it interfaces with the latest data from the state. Users can download maps and charts, view video clips and access the latest health information through the CD-ROM and online at http://health.state.ga.us and http://oasis.state.ga.us.
