March of Dimes Awards $18,217 Grant to Barren River District Health Department to Help Moms and Babies in the State of Kentucky

 

May 1, 2008

CONTACT: Crissy Rowland, Director of Health Information, 270-781-8039 Ext. 120

The Barren River District Health Department has received an $18,217 grant from the March of Dimes to put into action a Prematurity Prevention Toolkit. The Toolkit is designed for community members to use to teach the public about premature birth.  Premature birth is the leading cause of infant death in the US.  Rates have increased more than 30% since 1981.  In 2005 in Kentucky, 14% of babies were born too early, and this is one of the highest rates in the nation. However, March of Dimes research has found that most people do not think prematurity is a serious problem.   

A full-term pregnancy lasts 40 weeks, which is nine calendar months.  A baby born before 37 weeks is premature. If a baby is born even a few weeks too early, he or she can have effects from premature birth, such as breathing trouble, feeding problems, and jaundice.  Babies born too early often need special care and they have a higher risk of having to go back in the hospital after they go home.  They are also at higher risk of death.  Two of the most serious problems of premature birth are respiratory distress and immature brains. Preventing preterm birth saves babies’ lives and improves the future for families and communities. 

Barren River District Health Department has been working closely with the Kentucky Folic Acid Partnership to develop a toolkit for community partners to take action to prevent preterm birth.  The toolkit will target the general public, including pregnant women, civic groups, and businesses. “By increasing public awareness of this problem we feel this will change the attitudes about premature births and motivate people to take action and possibly avoid preventable premature births. Pregnant women who are aware of this problem are more likely to seek education and support services,” states Becky Hill, RN, project assistant for the grant.  For more information please contact Becky Hill or Diane Sprowl at 781-8039 or visit www.barrenriverhealth.org. 

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