THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, September 13, 1994 TAG: 9409130355
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
Most Northeastern North Carolina counties' infant mortality rates in 1993 exceeded the statewide average, but officials on Monday said small populations make the numbers seem worse than they are.
Many of the local counties reduced their rate of death among children under 12 months old from 1992, statistics from the North Carolina Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources show.
Camden County's rate was the highest in the state at 52.6 deaths per 1,000 births, but the rate was figured from only three infant deaths out of 57 live births in 1993. In 1992, Camden had no infant deaths for a rate of zero, officials said.
``When you only have a handful of births, a difference of one death can make a big difference,'' said W.C. ``Bill'' Furney, spokesman for the state health director's office.
Still, officials said the above-average rates in Northeastern North Carolina reflect rural problems such as lower access to health care and prenatal visits.
``We have no medical facilities in this county, no doctor,'' Camden County Manager John T. Smith said.
Furney said a higher black population in the area also raises the average. Black children across the state had higher infant morality rates than whites.
The state average for 1993 was 10.6 infant deaths per 1,000 births, up from 9.9 in 1992. But officials said the rate fits in with a general downward trend in the state over the last several years.
``We're concerned that the rate went up at all statewide,'' said Howard Campbell, health director for Pasquotank, Perquimans, Camden and Chowan counties. ``We're very concerned with any infant deaths.'' ILLUSTRATION: INFANT MORTALITY RATE
Chart
This table shows infant mortality rates for selected counties for
1993 and 1992. The rate is the number of deaths per 1,000 births.
Numbers in the right-hand column show actual births and deaths.\
[For a copy of the chart, see microfilm for this date.]
by CNB