_ 1 HE h ku!n iLLt September II, 20 O 8 A i i
Infant mortality still enemy of black babies in Forsyth
CHRONICLE STAFF KBPOOT
In 2007, Forsyth County had the highest infant
mortality rate of any major North Carolina coun
ty
The county's 2007 annual infant mortality rate
(IMR) was 11.1 infant deaths per ljOOO live
births, as compared to at 11 .4 for 2006. The data
Dr. Monroe
rvor 1 i;_
was released last week by
the North Carolina State
Center for Health Statistics.
The 2007 county rate
represents 57 actual infant
deaths, the same number as
occurred in 2006. The
Forsyth County 1MR is the
highest this year of the five
largest counties in the state.
The 1MR for the state
increased slightly from 8.1
in 2006, to 8.5 infant
uvama ptl l,UW 11VC DinnS 111 Z(K) /.
Non-white babies continue to be the greatest
victims of infant mortality. In 2007, the county's
non-white IMR was 19.2, while the white rate was
7.9 infant deaths per 1,000 live births. This ratio
(2.43 for 2007) is consistently higher than the
same ratio for the state and shows little evidence
of improvement year after year.
Grandparents
from page A I
four. She has raised 24-year-old Danzy, who
has cerebral palsy, since he was an infant. Though
she concedes that taking care of a disabled grand
son has been challenging, she would have had it
no other way.
Lenora Campbell, director of Winston-Salem
State University's Grandparenting Program,
spoke at the event. The program, which held its
own National Grandparents Day program on
Thomas
Monday. provides
resources and support for
grandparents and relative
caregivers raising children.
Society would be in
trouble without grandpar
ents and relative care
givers, Campbell said. She
talked about a recent trip
she took to Cape Town,
South Africa, where she
encountered many aban
doned children. Campbell
said she's thankful that so many in this country are
willing to step up and raise their relatives.
"I understand the power of that type of work,
when you have people who are willing to step up
to the plate, who are willing to sacrifice all that
they thought that they might do so they could take
care of the next generation of children," she said.
"This means, thai an African- American infant
in Forsyth County is far more likely to die before
his/her first birthday than a white infant," said Dr.
Tim Monroe, Forsyth County Health Director.
The non-white population includes all racial
groups other than whites. In regard to Forsyth
County and North Carolina, African-Americans
make up 80 percent of the non-white population.
Monroe says an unjust and unequal health and
socio-economic system is largely to blame for the
disparity.
"This is just one example of many inequalities
in health and welfare that we can measure in our.
as well as most other, communities. Infant mortal
ity has and continues to be a sensitive barometer
of the general welfare of a population," Monroe
said. "It is consistently worse where poverty is
worse and where the wealth disparity is greatest
between the wealthy and those in poverty.
The racial disparity in the IMR is due to a jA
consistent and disproportionate
prevalence of poverty among
people of color. We are develop
ing a better understanding of how the stresses of
poverty and the stresses of dealing daily with
institutional racism can increase the risks that a
pregnant woman will go into premature labor
Premature labor (and delivery) is by far the most
common cause of infant death."
"And I, quite frankly, think there's no better thing
Bertha Parks with her grandsons, Dwayne
and Jalen, who is sitting in his grandma's lap.
O '' ??
in life you can do."
Campbell said no job, including that of the
president and vice president of the United States,
is more important than the task of raising a child.
Every day, she concluded, should be Grandparents
Day.
Life after
Menopause
A Message for Women
For many women, menopause is Just the beginning of
the aging process, in fact, up to 40% of post-menopausal
women experience uncomfortable, and often painful
feminine dryness, burning, irritation, and pain and/or
bleeding with Intimate activity. Local physicians are testing
an investigational oral drug to determine if It safely and
effectively treats these symptoms.
If you are between the ages of 40 and 80, are
post-menopausal, have had a hysterectomy, and are
experiencing any of these symptoms, you may be eligible
to participate in this research study. Qualified participants
will receive all study-related care and study drug at
no charge. v *
To find out more about how you may be able to participate
in this research study, please call pmr at 336-714-7672 or
visit us online at www.Diedmontmedlcal.com.
Pieclmoiit Medical Research
(336) 714-7672
Check out our GERD Study and Diabetes Study In today s paper.
THE GREATEST GIFT WE CAN PASS OIS^
TO OUR CHILDREN JS THE GIFT OF HOPE
Register before October 10th by calling 336-641-3836
For more information on Barack Obama visit:
500 West 4th Street, Winston-Salem NC
www.voteforchange.com Qobama'os
Paid for by Obama for Amarica