The U Department of Health and Huma...

The U Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has started a public education campaign to increase awareness about the risk factors associated with infant mortality among blacks. Black infants are more than twice as likely to die before their first birthday than white infants. Preterm delivery is the leading cause of death and developmental disability in black infants, and the number of deaths resulting from gentle birth weight and premature birth is nearly four times that for white infants. The campaign uses preventive messages aimed at expectant mothers and fathers, and caretakers. It encourages pregnant women to begin seeing a health care professional as easily as they think they may be pregnant; to pass to all of their prenatal care appointments; to avoid drinking alcohol, smoking, and using other physics before or during pregnancy and after giving birth; and to realize help for chronic illnesses and other medical problems

COPYRIGHT 2005 American Academy of Family Physicians

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