Preventing Infant Mortality in Georgia February 2019 | Page 5

Results Matter: Preventing Infant Mortality in Georgia
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Perinatal Periods of Risk (PPOR) is a framework for analyzing and addressing infant mortality that provides
information about the Feto-Infant Mortality Rate (FIMR) and elucidates strategies to best address excess infant
mortality for that community. The PPOR approach maps infant deaths according to two axes (birth weight and age at
death) and calculates a birthweight-proportionate mortality rate for each of the categories created from the mapping.
From the birthweight-proportionate mortality rates, the excess mortality for each category is calculated by comparing
rates for the community to the best achievable rates in a reference population, allowing for prioritization among four
possible strategies.
PPOR analysis for the communities selected for TCOY revealed that the following key strategies would have the most
impact for addressing substantial percentages of excess FIMR in the communities:
Key Strategy #1: Improve women’s preconception and interconception health through the integration of
reproductive life planning and risk assessment into existing women’s health services (>55% of excess FIMR);
Key Strategy #2: Improve access to and quality of prenatal care (12%-32% of excess FIMR); and
Key Strategy #3: Improve infant health through safe sleep and breastfeeding (11%-14% of excess FIMR).
[ Above: Three Valdosta, GA clients who participated in the Lowndes County Board of Health’s Baby LUV
(Lowndes Unique Victories) program that focused on pregnant African-American women ages 13-45
with multiple risk factors that contribute to high-risk pregnancies.]