Report: nearly 40 percent of child deaths in AZ are preventable

PHOENIX – A new report shows a slight reduction in the number of preventable child deaths in Arizona, but one Valley pediatrician said there is still more than can be done.

The 2013 Child Fatality Report from the American Academy of Pediatrics Arizona Chapter found that out of 811 child deaths, nearly 40 percent could have been avoided.

Doctor Mary Rimsza, pediatrician and chair of the Arizona Child Fatality Review Program, said in some categories Arizona is improving, but the state is still doing poorly in categories such as abuse, where mortality rates have increased by 87 percent over the last six years.

“The most common causes of preventable death were child abuse and neglect,” she said.

The increasing rate of mortality linked to child abuse and neglect makes it even more important that people speak up if they know of a child being abused.

“In terms of child abuse and neglect, I think it’s really important that people in the community recognize the need to report suspected child abuse or neglect to the Department of Child Safety,” she said.

Rimsza said Arizona is doing better in motor vehicle deaths, which have reduced by 26 percent.

“We’ve certainly passed some laws that help in that regard, but also just parents (are) getting more conscientious about making sure they buckle up their kids,” she said.

The state has also seen drastic reductions in drowning cases, which Rimsza said is a major step in the right direction especially with the prevalence of backyard pools at Arizona homes.