Infant Mortality

1	2
Program Contact
Michele Benko MS, RD, LD Supervisor 216.201.2000 ext 1528 mbenko@ccbh.net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Infant Mortality is measured by the number of deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births.

The infant mortality rate is the number of deaths among children under one year of age occurring among the live births in a given geographical area during a given year, per 1,000 live births occurring among the population of the given geographical area during the same year.

In Cuyahoga County, black babies are almost three times more likely to die before their first birthday than white babies.

There are a number of factors that impact infant death. The top three causes of infant mortality are:

• Birth Defects
• Prematurity
• Sleep Related Deaths

 

Prevention

• Premature births are greatly impacted by the health of mom before and during pregnancy.  Opportunities to impact premature labor include: medical care, healthy diet and exercise.
• Black women are 50% more likely to have a premature birth, which can be largely explained by the stress experienced over the course of their lives.
• Birth defects are often unpreventable, however, taking prenatal vitamins that contain folic acid can decrease risk for certain defects.

 

Safe Sleep

• Sleep-related deaths are the most preventable cause of infant death.  Unsafe sleep environments are the primary danger to babies while they sleep.
• Always put your baby to sleep Alone, on his/her Back, in a bare-naked Crib, and Don’t smoke around the baby.
• In Cuyahoga County, we lose an average of two babies every month due to unsafe sleep environment

 

 

Are you planning to get pregnant?

Before getting pregnant, talk to your doctor about preconception health.  You can discuss your medical history and any concerns you may have about your health. Do all you can to plan a healthy pregnancy for you and your baby.

Find a doctor

• Care Alliance
• Cleveland Clinic
• Neighborhood Family Practice
• Northeast Ohio Neighborhood Health
• Metrohealth Medical Center 
• University Hospitals
• Womankind * (provides service up to 27 weeks)

Healthy behaviors

• Mental Health
• Nutrition
• Oral Health
• Physical Activity
• Smoking Cessation
• Take 400 mg of Folic Acid each day to prevent birth defects that affect the baby’s spine and brain

 

Before Pregnancy/Preconception Health

Preconception health refers to the health of women and men during their reproductive years, which are the years they can have a child. It focuses on taking steps now to protect the health of a baby they might have sometime in the future.

For more information about your health before you become pregnant, click on this link.

Centering Pregnancy

Centering Pregnancy is a great way to experience prenatal care for you and your baby!  Centering is a unique style of prenatal care in a group format. Its aim is to build a community that empowers women to be actively involved in their own care and equips them to make healthy choices throughout their pregnancy and beyond.

Expectant mothers meet for 9 sessions with a group of 10-12 other pregnant women that are due around the same time.

Each time a group meets, women have the chance to record their pregnancy progress, have their baby checked, talk about concerns one-on-one with their Centering provider, and talk about pregnancy issues that are relevant to them as a group, such as exercise, nutrition, reducing stress, signs of labor, breastfeeding, new baby care and after delivery issues. Centering is a prenatal appointment and childbirth education all in one!

Centering Pregnancy Locations

• Care Alliance
• Cleveland Clinic
• Neighborhood Family Practice
• Northeast Ohio Neighborhood Health
• Metrohealth Medical Center 
• University Hospitals

After Pregnancy

Find a pediatrician and be healthy!

• Breastfeeding
• Smoking Cessation
• Child safety
• Safe Sleep
• Car Seat Safety
• Mental Health
• Sexual Health Services
• Childcare

Not ready to get pregnant?

Safe and highly effective methods of birth control are available to prevent pregnancy and can be accessed right in your neighborhood.

To find birth control information and teen-friendly providers in Northeast Ohio, use this local Healthcare Finder Tool 

To search all providers click here..

 

Get involved and help save lives

Join local Ohio Equity Institute teams to address infant deaths in your community and discuss concerns with your local leaders.