Sleep-related incidents are the leading cause of death in babies up to 12 months, and Louisiana has the second highest infant mortality rate in the country. To address this health crisis, Louisiana Healthcare Connections implemented a nationally recognized safe sleep program to reduce infant sleep-related deaths, in partnership with Cribs for Kids.
Launched in 2019, the pilot safe sleep program focused on North Louisiana, a region with especially high rates of infant mortality. Pregnant members of Louisiana Healthcare Connections living in Shreveport, Monroe, and surrounding cities received Safe Sleep Survival Kits containing a portable crib and educational materials teaching sleep safety for infants.
As compared with 2018, 2019 saw a reduction in infant mortality of 56% in the pilot program region. By the end of 2020, the program resulted in 70 fewer infant deaths. Based on these results, Louisiana Healthcare Connections quickly expanded the Cribs for Kids program statewide. Since expanding the safe sleep program in April 2021, Louisiana Healthcare Connections has distributed 3,527 cribs to families across the state.
“When I received the crib, I wasn’t even sure who it came from,” said Moneisha Jackson. “When I opened the box, it was from Louisiana Healthcare Connections and it just lit up my day, because you have people out there who care about you and your kid. And they’re actually reaching out.”
“Infant mortality was a health disparity we identified, researched and are helping mitigate,” noted Stewart Gordon, MD, chief medical officer for Louisiana Healthcare Connections. “When we saw such strong results in north Louisiana, we expanded the safe sleep program as quickly as we could. Every baby deserves the chance to live their life; these cribs and educational materials are giving a lot more infants in Louisiana that chance.”