PRE-NATAL, INFANT AND CHILD HEALTH CARE

FACTS & FIGURES

Birth

• Florida had a 7% increase in infant mortality rate from 2000 to 2002, with 7.5 infant deaths per 1000 births
• There was also an increase in the percentage of low-birthweight babies, with 8.4% of Florida babies born with low birth-weight
• Low-birthweight is a risk factor for infant and child mobility, developmental delays, or chronic health problems
• Beginning prenatal care in the first trimester can provide a pregnant woman the best chance of a healthy pregnancy
• 17% of pregnant women in Florida do not receive prenatal care in the first trimester

Prevention/Insurance

• There are over 3.9 million children residing in Florida
• 15% or almost 600,000 Floridian children are un-insured, the national average is 12%
• Children with ongoing health insurance are more likely to have a medical home, be up-to-date on immunizations, and use the emergency room less for care
• 25% of Florida’s 19-35 month olds had not received the recommended number of immunizations for the 4:3:1:3 series that includes immunizations for diphtheria, tetanus, and polio. 32% of children had not met the recommended immunization level for chicken pox immunizations
• 3.4 million children Nationally do not have a usual source of health care
• Investments in school nurses and health care for child care programs can help in early identification and treatment of children with special needs.
• The recommended nurse-to-student ratio is 1 to 750 students, in 2000-01 Florida’s school health service nurse to student ration was 1 to 3,076
• According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), nearly 2 million children were unable to get needed medical care because the family could not afford it, and 3 million children had their medical care delayed because of worry about cost

Health

• Nationally 15.8% of children 6-11 are overweight
• Children who are overweight are at greater risk of obesity as adolescents, as adults and for life-shortening adult health problems such as: cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, gallbladder disease, and some cancers.

Mental Health

• Mental Health problems affect one in every five children, and serious emotional disturbances affect one in 10 at some point in their life
• Young children with disabilities and conditions which place them at risk for developmental delays are at greater risk of child abuse, and their families are at greater risk for divorce and suicide

Dental Health

• 29% of children 6 to 8 years of age in 1996 in the United States had untreated dental decay
• In 2003, 3.7 million children aged 2-17 years had unmet dental needs because their families could not afford dental care

*For full list of sources please contact Children’s Campaign at campaign@iamforkids.org*