A study of Alaskan infant mortality rates between 2008-2012 shows that 26% of the 184 infant deaths that were investigated could have been prevented.
The report also showed that Alaska’s southeast region had the least amount of infant mortality and we asked Dr. Nels Anderson of Soldotna what he’s seen in recent years.
Dr. Anderson: “A real unusual year last year where we had three babies die in labor, which we haven’t had anything happen like that in twenty plus years. And it was just one of those fluke things that happens that unfortunately you can’t do much about, about 1,000-2,000 babies die in labor whether they’re being monitored or not and we just haven’t had a problem and then all of a sudden we had this in the hospital and of course were devastated by it.”
He stated the biggest concern for him on the Kenai Peninsula is currently maternal drug abuse, particularly heroin while mothers are pregnant.
Dr. Anderson: “That usually doesn’t result in infant death but it does result in the babies having to be hospitalized for anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to withdraw them from drugs. That’s the thing I have the most concerns about to be honest with you.”
The study found that during 2008-2012, substance use contributed, probably contributed, or possibly contributed to 67 deaths reviewed (36%).
Of the known causes of death, substance use was most likely to contribute to deaths with a cause of sudden unknown infant deaths or asphyxia.
The study showed alcohol as contributing to 37 deaths, tobacco to 34, marijuana to 19, and heroin, methadone or other opioids as contributing to 12.
From 1992 through 2012 both the United States Infant Mortality Rates(IMR) and Alaska IMR decreased by more than a third.
Lack of access or inadequate access to care possibly contributed to 19 deaths which were reviewed during the 2008-2012 period.
That entire report can be found on the Department of Health and Social Services’ webpage.
