Adapting the Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (Fimr) Process to Address Mch-Related Morbidity Events

This poster summarizes the experience gained to date about use of the FIMR process to examine a broader range of sentinel events affecting the maternal and child health population (MCH) that result in morbidity but not necessarily mortality. The FIMR process is an effective public health intervention originally designed to address local systems issues associated with fetal and infant mortality. In this process, information is gathered about individual cases, including medical information and a maternal interview. Review of anonymous cases serves as a spring board for local community action to improve service systems and resources for women, infants and families.

On occasion, local MCH data may indicate a need for deliberate community examination of another type of sentinel event. The FIMR process has been customized to accommodate review of such cases. Initial adaptations concentrated on other mortality reviews. Recent attention has focused on morbidity reviews. Sentinel events of interest include: prenatal domestic violence, preterm/low birth weight births, infant birth defects (e.g., suspected fetal alcohol syndrome disorders), and infant infectious diseases (e.g., perinatal HIV, syphilis).