The number of children in Indiana and locally who die before their first birthdays remains high, and public health experts said Wednesday better communication can help fight the problem.

The infant mortality rate in Indiana and Allen County is 7.3 deaths per 1,000 live births, according to the Indiana State Department of Health. That is about 25% higher than the national rate of 5.8 deaths per live births.

“Personally, I feel that’s not acceptable in almost 2020 and we’d like to do something about it,” said Dawn Davis, president of the Indiana State Medical Association Alliance.

She spoke at a State Baby Shower designed to bring awareness to infant mortality. The event was held at the Indiana University School of Medicine’s Fort Wayne campus.

Davis, Allen County Health Commissioner Dr. Deborah McMahan and others said unsafe sleep practices cause many of the deaths and urged medical students and professionals to talk to pregnant women and new mothers about how to protect their children.

Holly Wood, safe sleep coordinator for the state health department, said some parents and caretakers simply might not know to avoid placing toys or fluffy bedding in babies’ cribs. Wood, whose office reviews cases of child deaths, said babies should also sleep on their backs.

“When parents put their baby to sleep at night, I very rarely see negative intent,” she said. “I hear, ‘I never thought it would happen to me’; ‘I’m a light sleeper (and) I thought I would know’; and ‘No one ever told me.’”

Wednesday’s event was sponsored by the state medical alliance and the Fort Wayne Medical Society Alliance. Showers are planned at other medical schools around the state, Davis said.

The infant mortality rate in ZIP code 46806, on Fort Wayne’s south side, has a rate of 15.4 – nearly three times the national rate. 

“So many of these deaths are preventable, and it’s really about the sleeping conditions,” McMahan said.

McMahan asked those who attended the shower to donate pack and play cribs to Healthier Moms and Babies.

The Fort Wayne organization works to reduce infant mortality by providing services and educational programs for pregnant women and new mothers. 

“One piece of low-hanging fruit is just to get these kids a safe place to sleep,” McMahan said. “That’s something you can do right now.”

mleblanc@jg.net