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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Dorian Villegas, MPH, Michael J. Kazda, MA, and Witold Migala, PhD, MPH. Public Health Department/Epidemiology, City of Fort Worth, 1800 University Drive, Room 218, Fort Worth, TX 76107, 817-871-7362, Dorian.Villegas@fortworthgov.org

Although overall infant mortality rates in most states and jurisdictions, including in Tarrant County, declined during the past decade, the infant mortality rate in the United States rose in 2002 for the first time since 1950. The magnitude of the infant mortality rate still poses a significant challenge to society and to the public health system. Nationally and locally, infant mortality rates continue to be slightly higher for Hispanics and highest for Blacks. In Tarrant County, infant mortality rates in the past two decades have been significantly higher than would be expected in comparison to other Texas urban areas and when considering the demographic profile of the county. The Perinatal Periods of Risk (PPOR) model has gained use throughout the country as a better method of monitoring and analyzing infant mortality, enabling localities to best target their efforts to reduce infant mortality. In order to identify gaps that may be addressed through prevention initiatives, the PPOR model was adopted by a local community task force that focuses in addressing the problem and design interventions to lower infant mortality rates. The PPOR phase I and II analyses from three combined years data were used to identify risk factors' inequalities and suggest specific areas for intervention. A geographic information system (GIS) was utilized, and infant deaths were geocoded by residence address; high-risk ZIP codes were then identified as pilot areas for task force intervention. An additional difference of the PPOR approach is the use of locally determined benchmarks to define disparities.

Learning Objectives:

• • Describe the implementation of PPOR to identify disparities
• • Understand the use of the PPOR to monitor local infant mortality data
• • Recognize the benefits of incorporating GIS to target interventions

Keywords: Maternal and Child Health, Infant Mortality

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No