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Louisiana

Past Assignee: From August 2000 until September 2005, there was an assignee located with the Louisiana Office of Public Health (LAOPH) in New Orleans, LA.

Current Fellows: Since 2002, there has been a master’s prepared fellow working with the assignee. More recently, in 2003, a PhD prepared fellow has joined the team. A new Ph.D. prepared fellow joined the team in October 2005.

Projects/Impact:

• Building MCH Epidemiology capacity: The main achievement has been empowering the MCH program at the LAOPH for evidence-based decision and program making through the formation of a strong Epidemiology, Assessment and Evaluation unit that now has 9 MCH dedicated epidemiologists and coordinates MCH Epidemiology programs and initiatives with the 9 regional epidemiologists throughout the state.
   
• MCH Data Book: The Epidemiology Assessment and Evaluation group lead by the assignee analyzed the vital statistics data in Louisiana and described it in a document that includes several important indicators used by public health people interested in MCH issues. The final version was distributed throughout the state and now an update of the last 3 years is being prepared. It is available through the internet, at the LAOPH*. At the regional and local levels, the data book has empowered the regional administrations and officials to develop plans to address the local needs in MCH.
   
• Opportunities for Reducing Feto-Infant Mortality through the Perinatal Periods of Risk analysis: Through using Perinatal Periods of Risk analysis–a new approach to studying infant mortality– the assignee was able to identify the opportunities for further infant mortality prevention for the state. This information is being used by the MCH Program to redirect of more than five million dollars of the state’s MCH funds to address infant mortality issues. In addition, the results of a hospital-specific, birth weight-specific neonatal mortality study has been used as one of the primary information sources for redefining the state’s perinatal regionalization program.
   
• Louisiana Feto-Infant Mortality Reduction Initiative: the participation of the CDC assignee has been a key factor in the study, planning, and implementation of this state-wide initiative for perinatal mortality reduction which now represents an investment of more than 15% of the total MCH budget. This initiative, which has mobilized communities throughout the state, has now 8 out of 9 regional FIMRs in place and coordinates the Nurse-Family Partnership program in all the state 9 regions.
  
  Because Louisiana’s infant mortality rates have increased over the last two years, the MCH EPI assignee and fellow investigated potential reasons for the increase. To their surprise, they discovered that the infant mortality rate of babies weighing less than two pounds at birth had declined substantially during prior years to unbelievably low levels. In the last two years, the rates have increased to levels seen around the nation. The decline and increase in the state’s infant mortality rates appears to be due to underreporting of the deaths of these small babies. The Office of Public Health has used this information to reanalyze the state’s current infant mortality trend, adjusting for underreporting, and is making efforts to strengthen vital records reporting.

State-Reported Publications:
None to report
 

*

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Page last reviewed: 2/8/08
Page last modified: 3/6/06
Content source: Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion