Why Should We be so concerned about Infant Mortality?
  
 
Infant mortality is a complex issue that impacts everyone- regardless of circumstances. That is why infant mortality has always been viewed as a good overall indicator of a community’s quality of life as well as the health status of its citizens.
There are several, interconnecting factors that influence infant mortality. Each requires our attention as we work to improve the health of the women, children and families in our community. Certainly we need to consider the health care available. However, we must further consider general community resources, policies, social conditions and quality of life factors, each of which can also influence infant mortality.

Improving infant mortality has been a primary goal of Healthy Start since the program was initiated in the State of Florida. As part of their mission to reduce infant mortality many of the State’s Healthy Start Coalitions participate in Fetal and Infant Mortality Review.
Fetal and Infant Mortality Review-FIMR
The National Fetal and Infant Mortality Review began in 1990 as a collaborative effort between the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Since it was first introduced in the late 1980's, Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) has been a dynamic, community process. FIMR has enjoyed continued growth and refinement as more communities have used it.

Today, there are over two hundred FIMR programs. Different types of agencies sponsor the FIMR program including city and county health departments, local hospitals, regional perinatal centers and community based maternal and child health coalitions.

Florida adopted the FIMR model in 1992. Many of the state’s Healthy Start Coalitions have been contracted by the State of Florida to implement FIMR locally. There are twelve FIMR projects statewide organized under Florida Statutes 766.101 and funded by the State of Florida.

FIMR is:

  • A strategy to close the gap in health disparities at the community level
  • A timely and valuable source of information about changing health care systems and how they affect real families trying to access them
  • A form of continuous quality improvement that allows communities to assess the performance of systems and the impact of changes in those systems
  • A voice for local families who have lost their baby
  • A tool that helps local health officials implement policies to safeguard families
  • A program endorsed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation and the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau

Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) Projects are countywide efforts to better understand the issues associated with fetal and infant mortality and morbidity and to develop strategies that improve perinatal systems of care, locally and statewide.

FIMR identifies strengths and areas for improvements in overall services systems and community resources for women, children and families. FIMR also provides direction towards the development of new policies to safeguard them.