4th Annual Infant Health Conference Offers Latest View of Infant Health In Nashville
Media Contacts:
Lisa Marsh, Metro Public Health Department, 880-2138
or
Brian Todd, Metro Public Health Department, 340-2153
Focus Placed on Improving Infant Health Outcomes and Eliminating Disparities
NASHVILLE, TN., October 18, 2005 -- Participants attending this year’s 4th Annual Project Blossom Conference will have access to the latest data on infant health such as prematurity and infant mortality, and learn how Lynchburg, Virginia reduced its infant mortality rate from nearly 30 deaths per 1,000 live births to 5.5 deaths per 1,000 live births in four years.
The conference will be held at the Nashville Downtown Public Library Conference Center, 615 Church Street on November 3rd from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m., and November 4th from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. The conference is open to public health officials, medical providers, social service agencies, community leaders, faith based community leaders, and anyone interested in reducing infant mortality.
More than 20 community stakeholders, including representatives from Metro Public Health Department, March of Dimes, Tennessee Perinatal Association, Meharry Medical College, Nurses for Newborns, Vanderbilt Department of Neonatology, and Metro Social Services, as well as community volunteers, will host the event.
The Project Blossom Conference allows community stakeholders to review health data, and target resources to improve infant health in Nashville and other Metro areas across the state by strategizing on how to reduce infant health disparities. Current alarming disparities include:
- In 2003, the infant mortality rate in Nashville was 7.8 deaths per 1,000 live births (6.0 for Whites, 11.9 for Blacks).
- Black infants in Nashville are two times more likely to die before their first birthday than White infants.
- More than half of all still borns and infant deaths from 2000-2002 were a result of issues related to the health of the mother and babies being born too early.
The conference will feature presentations on what is being done locally and across the state to help decrease infant deaths.
Registration for this two day event is as follows:
$50 for both days
$40 for early bird registration by October 21st
$25 Thursday only (dinner included)
$35 Friday only (breakfast and lunch included)
Conference topics will include Teen Sex in Tennessee, the latest Kids Count Data, and Perinatal Care: A Women's Perspective.
For more information about how to sign up for the conference contact Carol Hopkins, 340-5614, or Lisa Marsh, 880-2138.