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WHEREAS, infant mortality, referring to the death of a baby before it reaches its first birthday, is especially prevalent in communities with large minority populations, high rates of unemployment, poverty, and limited access to safe housing and medical providers; and,
WHEREAS, organizations such as Healthy Start, a federally funded program utilizing a strong, community-based coalition, are having a dramatic impact on decreasing the high rates of infant mortality, with Pennsylvania housing seven of the 102 Healthy Start projects nationwide; and,
WHEREAS, in 1991 the City of Pittsburgh had one of the highest overall infant mortality rates in the country and was designated one of 15 Healthy Start demonstration sites by the US Department of Health & Human Services, Maternal & Child Health Bureau, and Health Resources & Services Administration; and,
WHEREAS, since the implementation of the Healthy Start, Inc. Pittsburgh/Allegheny County Project in 1991, the infant mortality rate for all races has been reduced by almost 30 percent; and,
WHEREAS, from 2007 through 2009, the infant mortality rate for all infants receiving services from Healthy Start, Inc.'s Pittsburgh/Allegheny County Project was 2.74 deaths per 1,000 live births, 2 and 1/2 times less than the national average; and,
WHEREAS, 9 out of 10 children born while their parent is receiving services from Healthy Start, Inc. are born full term, at a normal weight and without any birth defects; and,
WHEREAS, groups across the nation are holding special events like baby parades, Bowling for Babies fundraisers, neighborhood health fairs, open houses, poster contests, un-birthday parties, clothesline projects, memorial gardens and other initiatives to raise awareness of infant mortality and prevention; and,
WHEREAS, since 1998, Healthy Start projects across the country have successfully increased the rate of a pregnant women's participation in early prenatal care during her first trimester from 41.8% to o...
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