PO Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360

For Release:
October 3, 2012

Mary E. O'Dowd, M.P.H.
Commissioner

For Further Information Contact:
Office of Communications
(609) 984-7160

Christie Administration Signs Pledge to Reduce Premature Births

Goal is to Reduce Preterm Births by 8 percent to Give Children Healthier Start in Life

 

Trenton, NJ - Department of Health Commissioner Mary E. O'Dowd announced that New Jersey has signed a pledge to reduce the state's preterm birth rate by eight percent to give more children a healthy start in life.  New Jersey is one of 48 states, along with District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, who have signed on to the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials' Healthy Babies Project.  The initiative is in partnership with the March of Dimes.

"It is important for the Department to take a leadership role in setting this goal for New Jersey, but it is only possible to achieve it through strong collaboration with our public health partners, providers and community leaders," said Commissioner O'Dowd.

"The Department of Health will work with its partners to decrease the preterm birth rate by 8 percent to 9.2 percent by 2014. This reduction translates to 1,000 more babies being born full-term in our state."

Every year 10 percent of the more than 106,000 babies delivered in New Jersey are born premature. Infants that are born preterm at a greater risk for lifelong health challenges such as respiratory problems, cerebral palsy, vision or hearing loss or learning disabilities and death. Preterm birth is also a substantial contributor to rising health care costs and, according to the Institute of Medicine, costs society more than $26 billion annually.

"While many of the causes of preterm birth are unknown, we do have scientifically proven interventions that can make a difference," Commissioner O'Dowd added.

The Department is working to improve birth outcomes through several programs. Through the Access to Prenatal Care Initiative, the Department provides more than $3 million in funding to improve early access to prenatal care services for at-risk women, including outreach and education, case management and direct care.  The Department provides nearly $1 million to the Maternal and Child Health Consortia to provide prevention education and to screen pregnant and postpartum women for substance abuse, smoking and domestic violence and refer them to appropriate treatment. And the Department co-sponsors the New Jersey Hospital Association's Perinatal Collaborative, which brings together hospitals and leading experts in perinatal care and patient safety to improve the care and information provided to patients.

Additionally, this year, New Jersey received $9.4 million in federal funding to expand home visitation services to help at-risk families with an array of health and social services - individualized support in the home setting to pregnant women. 

Through its collaborations with community and health care partners, the Department is working to ensure that more babies will be born healthy and full-term in New Jersey.

Last Reviewed: 10/3/2012