Partnering with the March of Dimes in this effort are the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN).
Also joining the campaign are corporate sponsors CIGNA, FedEx and the Johnson & Johnson Pediatric Institute. Media sponsors include Meredith Publishing's American Baby Group and Working Mother Media.
In addition, more than 25 professional, consumer and government organizations across the U.S. will assist in communicating the March of Dimes educational messages.
The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at http://www.marchofdimes.com, its Spanish language Web site at http://www.nacersano.org, or call 1-888-MODIMES.
References:
Derived from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample for 2000, a component of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. The diagnosis code includes short gestation and low birthweight.
Chollet J, Newman JF, Sumner AT. The Corporate Cost of Poor Birth Outcomes. Center for Risk Management and Insurance Research, Georgia State University, 1992.
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Contact: Michele Kling
mkling@marchofdimes.com
914-997-4613
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
30-Jan-2003