THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 14, 1996 TAG: 9602140372
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RALEIGH LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
The overall mortality rate for children in North Carolina fell for a third consecutive year, while other health statistics released Tuesday showed the number of suicide or accident victims rose slightly.
Statistics from 1994 - the latest figures available from the state - indicated a ratio of 97.9 deaths per 100,000 children under the age of 18. In 1993, the rate was 100.3.
Except for 1991, the overall child death rate has dropped steadily since 1989, when it was at 115.4.
Overall, 1,674 children died in 1994, compared to 1,689 in '93, according to the State Center for Health Statistics, but the drop in the rate also reflected more children living in the state in '94.
The total number of infant deaths, as well as deaths from homicide and sudden infant death syndrome also fell in 1994 compared to the year before.
State officials attributed the decline in the mortality rate to several efforts, including the state Child Fatality Task Force, which has supported the use of volunteer fatality prevention teams in all 100 counties. The teams review the death of every child in a county and discuss ways to keep similar situations from happening again.
Gov. Jim Hunt also attributed the decline in part to his Smart Start child care initiative and a program called Maternal Outreach Workers. The program asks volunteers to help at-risk, pregnant women getproper pre-natal care in an effort to reduce infant mortality.
``This shows our programs are working,'' Hunt said in a release. ``I supported the creation of local Child Fatality Prevention Teams in all 100 counties. These local teams are extremely important to our efforts.''
In 1994, only 24 Smart Start agencies were operating in 32 counties.
The study also found more children ages 1-9 died although infant mortality fell. Suicide also increased by 37 percent, from 35 victims in 1993 to 48 in '94. Motor vehicle fatalities for the young rose by nearly 8 percent and fatal illnesses were up by 10 percent.
Olivia Silber, a coordinator for forming local fatality teams said the higher raw figures do not necessarily reflect a jump in the rates in the categories. The rates for these categories were not released Tuesday.
Efforts such as the ``Click It or Ticket'' seatbelt campaign - which also told motorists to secure young children in restraining seats - are working to keep motor-vehicle figures lower.
``I was very encouraged by the buckle-up campaign,'' Silber said. ``It was the first statewide effort I have seen that also focused on children.''
KEYWORDS: INFANT MORTALITY CHILD MORTALITY by CNB