14 children have died in Rhode Island so far this year. Experts are raising the alarm.
Experts concerned over 'alarming' number of child, infant deaths in RI The Providence Journal
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Child Deaths in Rhode Island on the Rise: A Call to Action
PROVIDENCE – Health experts gathered Monday to draw attention to an
“alarming” spike in
child deaths in Rhode Island
so far this year which, if the trend continues, would surpass numbers for
at least the last two years.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
- Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Overview of Child Deaths in Rhode Island
So far in 2024, 14 deaths (and 6 near-deaths) of children from newborns to
18-year-olds have been reported to authorities, said
Ashley Deckert, director of the Department of Children, Youth & Families.
Of those 14 deaths, 7 were children not yet a year old, and of those, 4
occurred in just the last week, said
Seema Dixit, deputy director of the Rhode Island Department of Health.
“This is an extremely high incidence that has happened,” said Dixit.
“To put that in perspective, in the entire year of 2022, we had six deaths
of children younger than one year of age,” said Dixit, “and for all of
2023, we had 12 fatalities in this age group.”
Causes and Implications
Deckert and Dixit spoke Monday from the Health Department, where they were
joined by Richard Charest, secretary of the Executive Office of Health and
Human Services, Kimberly Merolla-Brito, director of the Rhode Island
Department of Human Services, and Brett Silingsby, a pediatrician at the
The Lawrence A. Aubin Sr. Child Protection Center.
The experts, citing confidentiality laws, said they could not talk
specifically about any one case. But Deckert said “these cases encompass
various causes, including unsafe sleep practices, accidental substance
exposure, domestic violence and heart-breaking instances of self-harm.”
Comparison to Previous Years
Last year, 33 deaths of children 18 or younger were reported in Rhode
Island. In 2022, 29 deaths were reported.
If the current trend continues, 2024 child deaths would significantly
surpass those numbers.
“Our presence here today underscores the urgent need to address this
alarming rise of incidents,” Deckert said.
Possible Causes of the Spike in Child Deaths
All of the 2024 cases remain under investigation, without causes of death
determined, Dixit said.
“However, we do know sudden unexpected infant death is a leading cause of
death for infants in the United States,” she said.
In an average year, half of deaths of children under the age of 1 are
because of unsafe sleep practices, said Dixit.
Unsafe sleeping practices include putting babies down on their stomach or
side, having infants sleep with other children or adults or with bedding,
crib bumpers and stuffed toys.
Promoting Safe Sleeping Practices
Pediatrician Silingsby said the safest way for babies to sleep is alone,
on their back and in a crib or bassinet.
“The goal is for the baby to be in a safe place with a firm sleeping
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | 3.2: By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age | – Number of child deaths reported in Rhode Island – Number of near-deaths of children reported in Rhode Island |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation | – Number of child deaths resulting from domestic violence |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children | – Number of child deaths resulting from self-harm |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships | – Collaboration between health experts, government officials, and pediatricians to address the spike in child deaths |
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
The issue of child deaths in Rhode Island is directly connected to SDG 3, which aims to ensure good health and well-being for all. The spike in child deaths raises concerns about the well-being and safety of children in the state.
SDG 5: Gender Equality
The article mentions that some of the causes of child deaths include domestic violence. This connects to SDG 5, which aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, including domestic violence.
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
The article also mentions instances of self-harm leading to child deaths. This connects to SDG 16, which aims to end abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against children.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
The collaboration between health experts, government officials, and pediatricians mentioned in the article reflects the importance of partnerships in addressing the issue of child deaths. This connects to SDG 17, which emphasizes the need for effective partnerships to achieve sustainable development goals.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
Under SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, the specific target that can be identified is 3.2: By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age.
Under SDG 5: Gender Equality, the specific target that can be identified is 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
Under SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, the specific target that can be identified is 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
Under SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, the specific target that can be identified is 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
The article mentions several indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:
– Number of child deaths reported in Rhode Island: This indicator can measure progress towards SDG 3.2, which aims to end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age.
– Number of near-deaths of children reported in Rhode Island: This indicator can also measure progress towards SDG 3.2, as it reflects the overall well-being and safety of children in the state.
– Number of child deaths resulting from domestic violence: This indicator can measure progress towards SDG 5.2, which aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.
– Number of child deaths resulting from self-harm: This indicator can measure progress towards SDG 16.2, which aims to end abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against children.
– Collaboration between health experts, government officials, and pediatricians: This indicator reflects progress towards SDG 17.17, which emphasizes the importance of partnerships in achieving sustainable development goals.
4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | 3.2: By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age | – Number of child deaths reported in Rhode Island – Number of near-deaths of children reported in Rhode Island |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation | – Number of child deaths resulting from domestic violence |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children | – Number of child deaths resulting from self-harm |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships | – Collaboration between health experts, government officials, and pediatricians to address the spike in child deaths |
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Source: providencejournal.com
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