While New York City’s infant-mortality rate continues to decline, more needs to be done to combat disparities in communities of color and low-income neighborhoods (“Stopping Infant Deaths,” Editorial, Oct. 9).

Though it may not have been specifically highlighted in the Health Department’s release, the city has long recognized that teen pregnancy contributes to infant mortality rates, especially in lower-income communities.

In 2003, the council convened a working group that produced a series of recommendations to combat the problem of infant mortality.

We have since provided millions of dollars in funding for infant-mortality prevention, including initiatives targeted toward teen pregnancy.

Such programs include clinical visits and family planning for uninsured teens, and community education programs for both adolescent boys and girls.

Unplanned pregnancy continues to be a factor in infant mortality in many communities, and the city will continue to see that it receives the attention it deserves.

Christine Quinn

Speaker

Helen Sears

Chair, Committee on Women’s Issues

City Council

Manhattan