Stats
for WA State
Kim Lotz from the Merced, CA, chapter of the MISS Foundation has done a lot of work to put together education presentations for caregivers in her area. Though the basis of her presentation is from Joanne Caccitore's Power of Compassion work, Kim customized the information to give the most recent stats on stillbirth and infant mortality for her state. When I learned of this, I wanted to know what my own state had in terms of statistical information, but I couldn't find a source to save my soul! So I truly want to thank Kim for leading me to the proper place!
If you are interested
in this information for
WA State --
especially if you are presenting
anything to health care
providers here in WA --
you can find an amazing
amount of information at
the website for the WA
State Dept. of Health.
You'll find a PDF file
giving number thru 2002
at:
http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehsphl/chs/chs-data/Public/AnnSum_2002.pdf
Specifically take a look at what the print layout/ table of contents shows as page number 7-9 (numbers printed at the bottom of the pages) -- but in electronic format PDF, the computer shows them as pages 15-17 of 182 pages. The last column on those pages shows "fetal death" stats -- for WA state that means any death after 20 weeks gestation due to "natural causes", otherwise called stillbirth. They also claim there that every hospital is required to file a fetal death certificate for stillbirth, but I find that hard to believe as many families never know this certificate exists. Maybe it is that hospitals are not telling families it exists? I don't know.
In any case, I'm guessing that anyone in any state can search their own Dept. of Health website and find similar information. Just thought you might like to know!
