Title
CONSIDERATION OF A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,000.00 TO THE WICHITA MEDICAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN'S PRECONCEPTION HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE FOR THE SEDGWICK COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve the electronic submission of application for the grant, and if awarded authorize acceptance of the grant, the establishment of budget authority as provided in the Financial Considerations section of this Request. Per Resolution 64-2013, this will be submitted to the County Manager for final approval and signature.
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Grant Renewal: No
Never Applied: Yes
Applied; not awarded: No
Grant Summary and Timeline: Adverse birth outcomes continue to be a major public health concern in Sedgwick County. Based on most recent data from KDHE (2010-2012), Sedgwick County rates of preterm birth and infant mortality surpass state rates. The Sedgwick County preterm birth rate is 9.5%, compared to the state rate of 8.9%. Recent data (2008-2012) also reveal that Sedgwick County had the highest number of infant deaths in the state (22% of total infant deaths in the state).The Sedgwick County infant mortality rate (14.1 deaths per 1,000 live births) is twice as high as the state infant mortality rate (6.4 deaths per 1,000 live births). Further, there are also significant racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in preterm birth and infant mortality that exist at the county and state level.
Accumulating scientific evidence has demonstrated the importance of women's health before pregnancy in preventing poor birth outcomes. One of the goals included in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) national recommendations for preconception health and health care is "to assure that all women of childbearing age in the United States receive preconception care services that will enable them to enter into pregnancy in optimal health." Since then, researchers and public health professionals have been charged with identifying strategies to...
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