Infant Mortality, Grim Reality in Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Newly released data shows the infant mortality rates are declining, for the second year in a row, but Memphis is below the national average, when it comes to mortality, poverty, and underachievement.

The State of Children in Memphis and Shelby County: Data Book 2010 has been released showing very little improvement. Researchers are hopeful the data will prove to people in this community that supporting programs that address the communities' deficient are crucial for change. The no-cost data book is a chance to encourage and rally others into action for positive change.

A new report, released by the Urban Child Institute, showed little improvement for children in Memphis and Shelby County.

"Half the children in our community are poor, low income, and we've also seen a rise in teen birth rates and births to single moms," said researcher Katie Devlin Midgley.

The information is released in a report, titled, "The State of Children in Memphis and Shelby County, Data Book 2010." Inside, grim reminders of the realities in our communities, and the findings confirm that little has changed in the past year.

"Our hope with the data book is that it'll encourage and rally others into action for positive change for kids in our community," said Midgley.

Some positive change is already happening providing some signs of hope. The infant mortality rate has decreased for the second year in a row.

"There are a lot of efforts that are going on to address the issues here and we would like to believe those efforts are making a difference," said Antionette Holman.

Holman, Coordinator for the Shelby County Infant Mortality Initiative, said the programs and agencies addressing infant mortality issues are doing meaningful work.

"Our Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Program, that's where we have a staff of people reviewing infant deaths, and they have the opportunity to interview families who had a loss," Holman described the program.

The helpful evidence from those conversations helped reveal a major cause for concern in the region.

"During that process they learned there were a lot of rollover deaths, which means the moms rolled over on their babies in the night. In that process, they learned that none of those mothers had cribs," said Holman.

It is a small revelation that makes the world of a difference, when it comes to infant mortality. The same rules apply when it comes to the new data. Hopefully, the public becomes more aware of programs they should continue to support; those dealing with children because researchers say investments in young kids yield greatest rewards in our community.

To download the full report, click on the link attached to this story. Next week, tune in to Good Morning Memphis. We will have much more on the 2010 data book, as well as experts discussing what we, as a community, can do, to improve the state of children.