Perinatal Program

The State Perinatal Program identifies and recommends strategies to decrease infant morbidity and mortality effectively. The Program encourages cooperative relationships among healthcare providers and institutions to ensure medically effective and cost-efficient perinatal care and raise awareness regarding infant morbidity and mortality. Learn more about our program by reading the Program Overview below.

Program Overview

To confront the state's high infant mortality rate, a group of physicians, other health providers, and interested citizens came together and became the impetus behind the passage of the Alabama Perinatal Health Act in 1980. This statute established the State Perinatal Program and the mechanism for its operation under the direction of the State Board of Health.

The State Perinatal Program is based on a concept of regionalization of care, a systems approach in which program components in a geographic area are defined and coordinated to ensure that pregnant women and their infants have access to appropriate care. The state's regional perinatal health care system is composed of five regions. The availability of neonatal intensive care (NICU) directs the organization of the regionalized care system.

What's New - Did You Know?

• Sleep-related infant deaths are still a major problem in Alabama. Of the 449 babies who tragically died in 2023, 89 are counted as Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths (SUIDs). The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) wants you to help combat infant mortality by joining the #ClearTheCrib #SafeSleepAL Challenge in October every year.

• Grandparents and other caregivers can help protect babies during sleep by creating a safe sleep environment.