Analysis of Feto-Infant Mortality Using the BABIES Framework: Georgia 2003-2015
Location: Georgia, U.S.A.
Alumni: Katherine Dorsett
Faculty: Brian McCarthy
The purpose of this study was to calculate and analyze feto-infant mortality rates (FIMRs) in the state of Georgia between 2003 and 2015, identify where excess mortality may be occurring with the six perinatal regions, and provide evidence-based interventions to target areas for improvement within various subpopulations within the state to strengthen perinatal regionalization. This added to a previous analysis of data from Georgia from 1983-2003 (Dunlop et al., 2011). The birthweight and age-at-death boxes for intervention and evaluation system (BABIES) was used to frame the analysis of vital health records to calculate FIMRs, defined as deaths in the first year of life per 1000 total births, from Georgia between 2003 and 2015. From 2003-05 to 2013-15, the FIMR for the state of Georgia increased from 14.8 to 16.0, and the excess FIMRs were 3.8 and 14.9 for black and white women, respectively. Inadequate maternal care contributed to 54-74% of the excess FIMRs from 2003-2015. Savannah and Atlanta had the lowest FIMRs (13.3, 13.5), but Macon and Albany had much higher FIMRs (17.2, 17.4), suggesting the need for significant improvements in perinatal regionalization within the state of Georgia.