Documenting effectiveness in a successful infant mortality reduction program

The Genesee County REACH 2010 initiative focuses on reducing disparities in perinatal health and infant mortality in Genesee County, MI. Partners in this initiative agree that no single intervention will eliminate racial disparities and that interventions must precede, include, and follow the period of pregnancy. Core themes for the work include: reducing racism, enhancing the medical care and social services systems, and fostering community mobilization. Strategies include community dialogue and awareness, education and training, outreach and advocacy, and mentoring and support. Vital statistics data indicates a substantial drop in African American infant mortality in Genesee County in 2005. The African American infant mortality rate remains lower in 2006 than in years prior to intervention activities. The REACH 2010 initiative is conducting an in depth investigation of intervention activities and perinatal health outcomes to determine best practices and document successes. Vital statistics data compiled by the Michigan Department of Community Health will be tracked on a month by month basis from January 2004 to December 2006. Indicators will include: average month of pregnancy when prenatal care began, average number of prenatal care visits, average weeks of gestation and proportion of premature births, average birth weight and proportion low birth-weight, 1 minute and 5 minute APGAR scores, tobacco and alcohol use during pregnancy, maternal weight gain, Kessner index scores, Kotel-Chuck index scores, number of medical risks presented, and number of pregnancy complications. Vital statistics data will be coordinated with program initiatives and policy changes, to assess the impact of individual intervention components.