Maternal and Child Health
"Did You Know?" is a weekly feature from the Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support to inform your prevention activities. We invite you to read, share, and take action!
View the Current "Did You Know?"
April 19, 2013
- Thanks to vaccines, many diseases that once killed thousands of US children have been eliminated or are near extinction—one of the 10 greatest achievements in public health.
- While immunization rates for children remain at or near record highs, recent outbreaks of measles and pertussis show the importance of keeping immunization rates high.
- New public service announcements, animated videos, and print ads are available to download and share during National Infant Immunization Week (April 20–27) and year-round.
April 5, 2013
- Nearly 1 in 5 teen births are repeat births. Of approximately 365,000 teen births in 2010, 66,800 were repeat births.
- Repeat teen births can severely limit a mother's ability to finish her education or get a job and carry substantial health, emotional, social, and financial costs for teen mothers and their children.
- CDC provides guidelines for healthcare professionals to counsel sexually active teens on the most effective types of birth control and resources for parents to talk to their teens about preventing repeat pregnancies.
January 18, 2013
- One in 33 babies in the United States is born with a major birth defect.
- Adopting healthy behaviors before and during pregnancy, such as consuming folic acid daily, can reduce the risk for birth defects.
- Educational materials can promote awareness of birth defects, especially during National Birth Defects Prevention Month in January.
January 4, 2013
- Taking folic acid before and during early pregnancy can help prevent many neural tube defects (major birth defects of a baby’s brain and spine).
- In the US, neural tube defects affect 3,000 pregnancies every year, with higher rates among Hispanic women.
- CDC has folic acid resources in English and Spanish for use during National Folic Acid Awareness Week in January and all through the year.
April 13, 2012
- National Infant Immunization Week (April 21 – 28) celebrates the power to protect infants from 14 vaccine-preventable diseases before age two.
- 42,000 lives are saved and 20 million cases of disease are prevented for each U.S. birth cohort using the current childhood immunization schedule.
- New public service announcements and other multimedia resources are available to download and share during National Infant Immunization Week and year-round.
February 3, 2012
- Every 15 minutes a baby is born with a congenital heart defect.
- Congenital heart defects are a leading cause of infant death and can result in lifelong disability.
- Reducing obesity, controlling diabetes, and preventing tobacco exposure [PDF-189KB] before and during pregnancy are actions that may help prevent congenital heart defects.
January 6, 2012
- Folic acid taken before and during pregnancy can help prevent many neural tube defects (NTDs), which are serious birth defects of the brain and spine.
- 3,000 pregnancies are affected by NTDs every year in the United States, with higher rates among Hispanic women.
- CDC offers free folic acid resources, both in English and Spanish, during National Folic Acid Awareness Week in January and all through the year.
September 16, 2011
- Prematurity is the leading cause of death among newborn babies in the United States.
- You can play an important role in improving national reporting of sudden unexpected infant deaths.
- PeriStats allows you to create maps and graphs while accessing national, state, and county-level infant health data.
May 13, 2011
- Chronic diseases can affect a woman's reproductive health.
- Depression can affect women before, during and after pregnancy.
- You can avoid unintended pregnancy with modern contraceptives [PDF-1.2MB].
April 22, 2011
- National Infant Immunization Week, April 23 – 30, celebrates the success of childhood vaccinations and promotes on time infant immunization.
- Routine childhood immunizations save 42,000 lives, prevent 20 million cases of disease, and save $13.6 billion in medical costs for each U.S. birth cohort.
- Education materials are available to help health care professionals talk with parents about immunizations.
April 8, 2011
- More than 400,000 teenagers aged 15 to 19 years give birth each year in the United States.
- CDC supports innovative domestic research to prevent unintended teen pregnancy.
- CDC also addresses disparities in teen pregnancy and birth rates as part of the President's Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative.
February 11, 2011
- Text4baby is a tool that provides health reminders and tips for pregnant women and new moms.
- The National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition aims to connect one million pregnant women and new mothers with text4baby by 2012.
- The National Women’s Health Information Center provides evidence-informed strategies to improve maternal and infant health.
January 28, 2011
- Birth defects affect about one in every 33 babies born in the United States each year.
- CDC urges women to take 400 mcg of folic acid every day (from fortified foods, supplements, or both) to help prevent major birth defects.
- The Guide to Community Preventive Services recommends community-wide education campaigns to promote the use of folic acid to help prevent birth defects.
January 21, 2011
- The Surgeon General released the first call to action to support breastfeeding on January 20, 2011.
- Both babies and mothers gain many benefits from breastfeeding.
- The CDC Guide to Breastfeeding Interventions provides guidance in selecting evidence-based and promising breastfeeding promotion and support activities.
January 14, 2011
- CDC released the CDC Health Disparities and Inequalities Report – United States, 2011 on January 13, 2011.
- A key social determinant of health, early learning opportunities create a critical foundation for children's academic success, health, and well-being, yet not all children are benefiting equally.
- The Guide to Community Preventive Services has evidence-based recommendations for promoting health through early childhood development programs.
Get email updates
To receive email updates about Did You Know?, enter your email address:
Contact Us:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support
-
Mailstop: E-70
4770 Buford Highway, NE
Atlanta, GA 30341 - Email OSTLTS
