This program is needed to decrease the health disparities of low-income women and children. By improving the health status of women in their childbearing years, we can reduce the infant mortality rate in Arizona.  We can address the health risks associated with obesity and overweight among women of childbearing age, as well as children and adolescents, through improvements in nutrition and physical activity.  We can also reduce the number of injuries and deaths to children caused by motor vehicle crashes through the use of correctly installed child car safety seats and educating teens on motor vehicle safety. 

Injury Prevention:
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3 out of every 4 child car safety seats are improperly used.
According to the 2007 Child Fatality Review Report, 93 children died due to motor vehicle crashes in which the child was either a passenger/driver in an automobile/truck in Arizona. The majority of these deaths (94 percent) were concluded to be preventable. Lack of child safety restraint was a factor in 50 of these deaths; 8 children were under the age of 1, 11 children were 1-4 years old, 11 children were 5-9 years old, 21 children were 10-14 years old, and 42 children were 15-17 years old.
There were also numerous non-fatal injuries caused by motor vehicle crashes. In 2008, 425 children under the age of 18 were hospitalized as a result of non-fatal motor vehicle-related injuries and were either a driver/occupant of a motor vehicle. Of these hospitalizations, 31 percent were under the age of 10 and 69 percent were 10-17 years old. Additionally, 4,940 children under the age of 18 were seen in the emergency room for motor vehicle-related injuries in which they were a driver/occupant of a motor vehicle. Among these children, 30 percent were under the age of 10 and 70 percent were 10-17 years old.
NHTSA and our local child car safety seat programs urge parents/caregivers to continue to use a booster seat for all children until they reach a height of 4’9" and weigh 80 pounds, usually around the age of 8, before placing them in a regular adult size seat belt.

Reducing Infant Deaths:
The overall infant mortality rate for Arizona was 6.8 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2007. Infant mortality rates differ across racial/ethnic groups. Historically, infant mortality rates among African Americans have remained consistently higher than all other racial/ethnic groups. In 2007, African Americans had the highest rate of infant mortality, with 15.2 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, compared to White non-Hispanics with 5.6 infant deaths per 1,000 live births. American Indians followed with 8.1 infant deaths per 1,000 live births and Hispanics with 7.4 infant deaths per 1,000 live births. 

According to the 2000-2003 Perinatal Periods of Risk analysis, African Americans had the highest percentage of excess or potentially preventable fetal-infant deaths (62 percent). Half of the fetal-infant deaths for American Indians were preventable, compared to 29 percent for Whites. For African Americans, the highest excess death rate occurred in the maternal health/prematurity period where prevention efforts should be focused on health behaviors before pregnancy and care during the period shortly before and after birth. For American Indians, the highest excess death rate occurred in the infant health period where interventions should be focused on injury prevention, sleep position, and breastfeeding. 

Women's and Children’s Health (weight, physical activity, nutrition, smoking, substance use/abuse:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) refers to the number of overweight/obese adults and youth as reaching “epidemic” proportions in this country. According to the 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, nearly two thirds (63 percent) of adults in Arizona had a calculated Body Mass Index (BMI) indicating that they were overweight or obese (72 percent of men and 54 percent of women). This represents a 26 percent increase since 1998 where 50 percent of adults in Arizona were overweight or obese. 

In Arizona during 2005, 36 percent of children age 2 to 5 receiving Arizona Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) services had a Body Mass Index (BMI) at or above the 85th percentile (i.e. overweight or at-risk for becoming overweight). According to the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health, 31 percent of children age 10 through 17 were overweight or at-risk for becoming overweight in Arizona. According to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 26 percent of Arizona high school students indicated that they were overweight or at-risk of becoming overweight in 2007. 

Lack of physical activity and poor nutrition can lead to overweight and obesity among both women and children. In 2005, Arizona ranked 13th highest among all states for adults who engage in physical activity on a regular basis. According to the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, over half (52 percent) of adults reported that they participated in moderate to vigorous physical activity at least three days per week (54 percent of men and 51 percent of women). According to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 83 percent of Arizona high school students indicated that they consumed less than 5 recommended servings of fruits and vegetables per day in 2007.

According to the National Women’s Health Information Center (4woman.gov) all women of childbearing age, with even a remote chance of getting pregnant, should try to make sure they eat healthy foods, exercise regularly (30 minutes per day for most days of the week), and get enough rest and sleep. Talk to your health care provider about what kinds of food and exercise are best for you. If a woman smokes, drinks alcohol or uses illegal drugs she should stop. All of these activities can cause long-term damage to your baby. Talk with your health care provider about steps to take to stop smoking. Talk with a member of your faith community, a counselor, a trusted friend, or your health care provider if you are concerned about your alcohol or drug use.

What are the goals of this program?

The Community Health Program is a statewide program that has the goal of strengthening and supporting the family and community by promoting and improving the health status of women, infants, and children. The purpose of this Program is to fund collaborative efforts at the community level that can result in improvements to the specific women’s and children’s health outcomes, which are listed below. It is geared toward women of childbearing age and children up to age 18. The program targets populations at risk of having health disparities and include specific strategies to address those disparities.

1. Reduce obesity and overweight among women and children
2. Reduce preventable infant mortality
3. Reduce the rate of injuries, both intentional and unintentional

What has this program achieved?

During the time period from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008, there were 1,409 child safety seats distributed and installed, with accompanying education for the caregiver/parent. Twelve child car safety events were conducted, and 39 additional Child Passenger Safety Technicians were trained and certified to install child safety seats in Arizona. Five hundred sixty five infant car seats were checked in local communities for proper installation, wear, damage, or product recalls.

From January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008, 1,463 women (most of childbearing age) were reported to have participated in a women’s health program. The Women’s Health Program promoted healthful living and taught women how to accomplish this goal. Results from each program have indicated that women are capable of changing lifestyles and have gained knowledge, measured through pre- and post-tests, to help them and their families lead healthier lives.

View our publications

Need more information?

Virginia James, Program Manager
Community Health Program
Bureau of Women’s and Children’s Health
150 North 18th Avenue, Suite 320
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Phone: (602) 364-1446
Fax: (602) 364-1494
E-mail: jamesv@azdhs.gov

Additional Contacts:

1. Apache County Health Department (Child Car Seat/Safety Programs, Obesity/Overweight and Infant Mortality reduction program debbiepadilla@co.apache.az.us, telephone (928) 333-5512
2. Coconino County Health Department (Child Car Seat/Safety Programs) htaylor@coconino.az.gov, telephone (928) 522-7871
3. Maricopa County Department of Public Health (Child Car Seat/Safety Programs, 
   Obesity/Overweight and Infant Mortality reduction programs) 
   annadavid@mail.maricopa.gov, telephone (602) 506-6609
4. Mariposa Community Health Center (Obesity/Overweight) 
   rpiper@mariposachc.net, telephone (520) 375-6056.
5. Mountain Park Health Center (Obesity/Overweight) 
   vhernandez@mphc-az.org, (602) 323-1013
6. Navajo County Public Health Services District (Child Car Seat/Safety Programs)
   amy.stradling@co.navajo.az.us, (928) 532-6050
7. Yavapai County Community Health Services (Obesity/Overweight, Injury and Infant Mortality reduction programs) 
   barbara.jorgensen@co.yavapai.az.us, (928) 771-3122