Infant Mortality

Measure

Rate (per 1,000) of deaths of infants, residing in Hall County, Georgia (regardless of where the death occurred) and less than 1 year of age. 

(Counties included in District II are: Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White)

Why is this indicator important?

Infant mortality is often used as an index of the general health of a community, since many of the risk factors reflect on community issues such as healthcare access, education, and poverty, as well as lifestyle choices and adequacy of prenatal care. 

Infant deaths have been linked to late prenatal care, teen pregnancy, and risky behavior during pregnancy, such as substance abuse and/or smoking.

How are we doing in Hall County?

• Hall County continues to rank 1st in the state of Georgia in the Healthy Start Index for infants.  The Healthy Start Index combines three measures (babies born weighing 2500 grams or more, babies born to mothers who received prenatal care in the first trimester, and babies born to mothers who did not smoke or drink alcohol during pregnancy).
• Since 1994, infant mortality rates in Hall County have been consistently better than Georgia and national rates.

What does research tell us we can do to improve this indicator?

• Educate women about the danger of secondhand smoke
• Conduct a community-specific needs assessment to address issues of access to prenatal care
• Engage in linking women to health-care services
• Identify if there are sufficient health-care providers in the community and work to seek solutions
• Educate expectant parents and parents of infants on health and safety issues, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and childhood diseases, including prevention of child abuse and neglect
• Address disparities in infant mortality
• Provide pre-pregnancy education and counseling to all women and men
• Ensure timely prenatal care for all women
• Expand access to medical care for infants in the first month of life
• Expand access to well-baby care and parenting education