We're in!

The Week at a Glance

Why Memphis?

The selection of Memphis, Tenn. as the site for this outreach week is more than warranted by the high rates of African American infant mortality in the state, and the need to emphasize the role of preconception health and care as a lifelong process that leads to a healthy life, a healthy pregnancy, a healthy baby, and a healthy family.

In Memphis in 2005, 144 infants, of all races and ethnicities, died before reaching their first birthday, an infant mortality rate of 13.0 per 1,000 live births; this is almost twice the national rate of 6.9 per 1,000 live births.

Black infants (18.5) were nearly 4 times as likely as white infants (5.2) to die during the first year of life during 2003-2005 (average).

Sources

• National Center for Health Statistics, period linked birth/infant death data.
• Retrieved April 20, 2009, from www.marchofdimes.com/peristats .
• Unrealized Health Potential: A Snapshot of Tennessee . [PDF | 298KB]

Check Who's Coming to Memphis!

• Morgan State University
• University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing
• Spelman College
• Fisk University
• Meharry Medical College
• Lane College
• Le Moyne-Owen College

Our Partners

• Shelby County Health Department
• Tennessee Department of Health
• Nashville Metro Public Health Department
• Shelby County Infant Mortality Reduction Initiative: All Babies Count (ABC)
• World Overcomers Outreach Ministries Church (Ambassador Church)
• Fisk University
• Meharry Medical College
• Lane College
• LeMoyne-Owen College
• Spelman College
• Morgan State University
• University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
• March of Dimes
• CityMatCH
• G.W. Carver High School
• Memphis Academy of Health Sciences (MAHS)
• Hollis F. Price Middle College High
• Southwind High School