Agenda item

The Director of Public Health submits a briefing report that provides an introduction to Infant Mortality in Leicester and summarises the actions being taken to reduce level of infant mortality in Leicester.

The Director of Public Health submitted a briefing report providing an introduction to Infant Mortality in Leicester and it also summarised the actions being taken to reduce level of infant mortality in Leicester.

The Director of Public Health referred to a recent article in the Leicester Mercury which had been based upon the latest set of infant mortality rates for Leicester that gave the impression that there had been a large increase in the level of infant mortality.  The numbers involved were relatively small so small changes in the numbers could cause big fluctuations.  The Council analysed the results for infant mortality and averaged it out over a number of years to give more statistical stability for monitoring purposes. Comparisons were also carried out with other comparable profiled local authorities. 

Factors affecting infant mortality were:

•           Maternal age including those over 40 years old and those with teenage pregnancies.

•           Smoking during pregnancy.

•           Maternal obesity.

•           Domestic violence.

•           Breast feeding and immunisations.

•           Congenital abnormalities, although these are relatively small in numbers.

•               Poverty and deprivation.

•               Housing and overcrowding.

•           Education programmes with NHS midwives and local organisations.

The Deputy City Mayor commented that many actions identified in the report to improve the infant mortality rates, such as breastfeeding and smoking cessation, also had other benefits for health in later life.  It was also recognised that the strategy should also include fathers and the wider family members, as issues such as passive smoking were also an important risk factor.

Members made the following comments:-

a)         Education programmes should also be aimed at women who were intending to become pregnant.  It should include advice on the potential effects of factors such as maternal weight, smoking during pregnancy, the importance of diet and the home environment upon the unborn child and its subsequent early life, which could also lead to long term health issues.  More detail was needed to explain why a low birth weight was detrimental to a new born and why it could have implications for later life.

b)         There was also benefit in encouraging women to take a pregnancy test as early as possible and to enrol for ante natal clinics as soon as possible after becoming pregnant.

c)         It was considered that not having the same midwife for ante natal appointments could account for reduced engagement.

d)         The advice provided should also recognise that not all pregnancies were planned and should address all the options available to women should they not wish to continue with the pregnancy.

e)         Poor quality housing was noted as a risk factor for infant mortality and  it was questioned whether pregnancy was taken into consideration when making housing allocations.

The Deputy City Mayor thanked members for their comments and indicated that Members’ suggestions would be considered as the strategy was progressed.  He indicated that there was a balance to be struck between raising awareness, managing risks and potentially frightening people by providing too much information.

The Chair felt that figures for maternal obesity could easily be captured and should be provided and that there should be references to the impact that mental health and chaotic lifestyles issues could have in relation to infant mortality rates.

AGREED:

That the report be noted and that the Commission receive the Action Plan behind the strategy at a future meeting.