What can Communities and Individuals do to Help Reduce Infant Mortality Rates?
Communities can play an important role in this effort by encouraging pregnant women to seek prenatal care in the first trimester and educating communities, providers, pregnant women and family members on factors that effect infant mortality such as smoking, substance abuse, poor nutrition, lack of prenatal care, medical problems, chronic illness, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Parents and caregivers should become familiar with the risk factors and always place sleeping infants on their backs. Research has demonstrated that babies who slept on their stomachs or sides were at a higher risk for SIDS. A separate but proximate sleeping environment is recommended such as a separate crib in the parents’ bedroom.
