The CNMI still has an alarmingly high mortality rate for infants, according to the Department of Public Health\u2019s Maternal and Child Health Bureau.<\/p>\n
Based on the latest data from the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp., the CNMI has so far a total of 34 infant deaths this year.<\/p>\n
What is more alarming is the CNMI has a much higher fetal deaths or miscarriages than the infant mortality rate. <\/p>\n
DPH-MCHB data analyst Shawnalei Ogumoro said that in their efforts to address this increasing problem, they are trying to reduce \u201cpremature mortality\u201d by providing outreach and knowledge to community members.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe provide services and incorporate that with providing quality improvement by implementing important measures through early stages of pregnancy,\u201d Ogumoro said.<\/p>\n
With an estimated population of over 50,000, 34 infant deaths so far in 2014 is a large number for the CNMI. Ogumoro said that majority of the infant mortality deaths occur among the local indigenous women. <\/p>\n
According to Ogumoro, 91 percent of mothers here in the CNMI have risk factors that contributes to serious birth complications.<\/p>\n
Ogumoro also said that birth complications usually contribute to the infant mortality rate, compared to the United States, where sudden infant death syndrome rates are higher and where the parents are usually healthy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese birth complications usually contribute to miscarriages. These risk factors include sexually transmitted infections, the way the mother treats herself, and usually a non-communicable diseases [such as diabetes],\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Usually risk factors contribute to the life expectancy of an infant. The CNMI\u2019s average life expectancy is from 60 to 74 years.<\/p>\n
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, infant deaths per 1,000 live births from 2009 averaged 2.7; 2010 and 2011 averaged 2.9; 2012 averaged 8.1; and 2013 averaged 10.2.<\/p>\n
Majority of the causes are non-communicable diseases.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo far we are starting at a smaller scale in addressing this problem and we are [making little headway] due to funding. But we want to revisit this and address the problem. Because 34 is a large number, and not only that, the premature or miscarriages are even higher,\u201d Ogumoro said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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