QUALTIES OF LIFE, CAPE GIRARDEAU; SPECIAL REPORT: HEALTH; INFANT HEALTH IN UPWARD TREND

Infant morality rates and low birthweight infants have taken a turn for the better in Cape Girardeau County since 1990. Experts said the trend is attributed to better prenatal health care through education and nutrition.

The percentage of low birthweight of live infants who weigh less than 5.5 pounds has decreased and leveled out over a six-year period, a Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce study said. In addition, the rate of county resident infant deaths per 1,000 births has fallen considerably during the period.

Dr. Michael J. Jessup, a Cape Girardeau obstetrician, said a major contributing factor to the decreased percentages is the increased availability of accessible prenatal health care. "More pregnant women are taking advantage of walk-in care," said Jessup.

He also said more physicians are taking Medicaid. "More clinics are taking Medicaid patients, but more pregnant women need to be educated about the resources they have available to them."

Although statistics show a drastic decrease in the percentage of low-birthweight babies between 1990 and 1995, Jessup said the decrease may be due to the fact that there is no neonatalogist in this county for the care of high-risk infants.

"How many of our babies are taken to St. Louis? The number may be down because our babies are dying out of the county."

Jessup said a future goal for the community would be the retainment of a qualified hospital-staffed neonatalogist.

Jessup thinks the key to delivering healthier babies is education.

"I have seen a lower death rate and an increase in improved prenatal nutrition in my own practice," he said. "Once you get these pregnant ladies in the doctor's office we can educate them."

Charlotte Craig, director of the Cape Girardeau County Health Department, said the door is to prenatal care for women who know how to access it.

"When women come into the department for a pregnancy test we do an in-depth interview and question the women about their pregnancy," she said. "We ask risk related questions."

Craig, a registered nurse, said if any risk factor flags go up during the questioning the woman is directed to the help she needs.

The TEMP program, a part of Medicaid, helps women get prenatal care while they wait for regular Medicaid. This gives the woman a chance to have the proper education and nutrition when she needs it most.

"It is important for women to have prenatal care; the earlier the better."

She said the WIC (Women Infants and Children) program is a key in making a healthier outcome in a pregnancy. "The WIC program is a wonderful and cost-efficient program," said Craig.

Matt Hopkins, director of the March of Dimes Cape Girardeau office, thinks access to education and nutrition has made healthier babies in Cape Girardeau County.

Hopkins thinks the county health department has led the way in providing accessible prenatal care.

"The health department in this county does the best job of any county in Southeast Missouri for taking the initiative in helping develop health care, clinics and services that meet the needs of residents of this county," he said.