WS Chronicle

BY TODD LUCK

THE CHRONICLE

The Forsyth County infant mortality rate continues to be historically low.

That was among the findings in an annual report on child protection and fatalities presented to county commissioners on Thursday, Sept. 9 by Public Health Director Marlon Hunter and DSS Family and Children Services Director Victor Isler. The report showed that in 2015, the infant mortality rate was 7.1 per 1,000 live births, the second lowest rate in history. The lowest was 6.4 per 1,000 live births in 2014.

Infant mortality is when a baby less than one year old dies. For years, the county experienced higher infant mortality than the state average. Hunter credited the turnaround in recent years to numerous programs of education and outreach for families with babies, including those that get health educators and nurses out into those homes.

“We would like to think that it is because of all the momentum and the effort we have put behind trying to make sure we raise awareness,” Hunter said.

In 2015, the county had 55 deaths of children, which the report defined as 17 years-old or younger.

The leading cause of death was unsafe sleep in babies with 10 fatalities. Hunter said the health department got a state grant to combat the problem that will go to contraception at its family planning clinic and an educational outreach program with cribs for families.