Prisma Health Healthy Start recognizes infant & maternal mortality rates

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — In latest data from 2023, the SC Department of Public Health reports that 402 babies across South Carolina died before their 1st birthday.

With September being recognized as Infant and Maternal Mortality Month, Prisma Health’s Healthy Start program honored those who passed away with a bubble release.

SC DPH also shows that 27 mothers died from pregnancy related issues in 2021 — leading to the March of Dimes giving the Palmetto State a grade of “F” regarding childbirth.

But it’s not just medical complications, social drivers play an equal role.

“If you’re worried about where you’re going to sleep and how your bills are going to be paid, and your lights, that’s a stressor in itself. So it’s just so many different things that encompass around infant mortality and the disparities that exist,” says Healthy Start Program Director Kim Alston.

Racial disparities still play a large role in SC as well, with one out of 82 Black babies passing away before turning one.

One out of 188 who died were white or another race. However, leading causes remain the same for all.

“Congenital malformations or birth defects, disorders related to premature birth or low birth rate, and accidents followed by SIDS and bacterial sepsis,” says Kelly Melton with Healthy Start.

The program works to decrease those numbers — providing healthcare before, during, and after pregnancy — and helping mothers with higher risk factors like infections, mental health conditions, and substance use get the treatment they need.

“We actually have a worker that goes in the home. And we assess whatever their needs are. And based on those needs that they have we make sure we identify resources, so we’ve armed ourselves with a social worker that can help with some of those social determinants of health related to food insecurities and housing insecurities,” says Alston.

Transportation to appointments, childbirth classes, and lactation consultants for mothers who breastfeed — are also offered within the program.

“If you look at our data, our data shows that individuals who have been in our program have greater successes than those that were not in the program,” she says.

For more information on Prisma Health Healthy Start, click here.