Public Health Snapshot: Dyer County, TN
The Data Narrative: Maternal Vulnerability and Care Access
The Dyer County Context:
With a high Maternal Vulnerability Index score of 81.2 out of 100 and limited availability of specialized obstetric care providers, local families navigate compounded structural barriers. This complex landscape yields an infant mortality rate of 11 per 1,000 and a teen birth rate of 23.7 per 1,000, indicating critical areas that require community-led interventions and targeted health resource allocations.
Furthermore, childhood environmental exposures present a persistent concern. Currently, tracking reveals that 1.9% of young children (ages 0-3) in the area test positive for elevated blood lead levels, signaling a structural need to identify hidden environmental hazards and prioritize proactive home remediation.
With a high Maternal Vulnerability Index score of 81.2 out of 100 and limited availability of specialized obstetric care providers, local families navigate compounded structural barriers. This complex landscape yields an infant mortality rate of 11 per 1,000 and a teen birth rate of 23.7 per 1,000, indicating critical areas that require community-led interventions and targeted health resource allocations.
Furthermore, childhood environmental exposures present a persistent concern. Currently, tracking reveals that 1.9% of young children (ages 0-3) in the area test positive for elevated blood lead levels, signaling a structural need to identify hidden environmental hazards and prioritize proactive home remediation.
Maternal and Child Health Engagement
A look at key maternal and child health indicators. Hover over cards for definitions or use the filters below to explore specific areas of health.
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Infant Mortality Rate
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Preterm Births
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Low Birth Weight
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Severe Maternal Morbidity
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Prenatal Care
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Maternal Vulnerability Index
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Obstetric Care Providers
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# of Doulas
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Teen Birth Rate
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Breastfeeding at Discharge
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Elevated BLL (Ages 0-3)
Recommended Policy Actions
Based on systemic needs, these actions prioritize closing the distance between patients and providers, lifting local health baselines closer to targets. Click to expand each item:
Community Engagement Community-led Solutions
Work with local communities and local partners to understand and learn about county-specific needs.
Home Visiting Home Visiting Program
Leverage the state's Home Visiting Program to bypass local provider shortages, bringing public health nurses directly to new mothers to improve prenatal and postpartum health.
Prevention Mobile Lead Screening Clinics
Deploy mobile health units to close the screening gaps completely, bringing baseline lead testing closer to state screening averages and tracking invisible hazards.
Driving Policy Change Advocacy
Sustainable improvement requires a supportive policy environment that prioritizes student and youth health.