DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201

 

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

January 22, 1968

Dr, Joshua Lederberg
School of Medicine

Stanford University
Palo Alto, California

Dear Dr, Lederberg:

I have been following with interest your series of columns on
premature births which have been featured in the Washington Post
and Times-Herald. I certainly applaud a man of science who is
spending so much time bringing this kind of vital information to
the public, Too often, important scientific thinking is inadver-
tently denied American citizens simply because no one has thought
to translate professional know-how into terms most people can best
understand and implement,

One of the most recent factors being considered in relation to the
problem of prematurity is that of the mother who is at high risk
with relation to complications of pregnancy, Now that it is the
stated policy of the U, S, Government to bring family planning
services to all women in the United States who have heretofore been
denied these services because they cannot afford private medical
cate, it is hoped that the incidence of premature births--with its
concomitant factors of congenital defect and infant mortality--will
be substantially reduced,

Indeed, it is noteworthy that the most significant decrease in infant
mortality in the United States in 15 years occurred in 1965, when the
rate declined from 24,7 per thousand live births to a provisional
estimate of 23.4 per thousand, And this decrease appears to have
continued into 1966,

Notwithstanding other factors at work, this reduction coincides with
the extensive development and expansion of local maternal and child
health services supported, in part, by the Children's Bureau, In
almost all cases, family planning is an integral part of these serv-
ices and it is estimated that more than 275,000 women received free
information and supplies from these sources from June 1966 to this
past June 1967,
If you should be interested in further information on the position
of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare with regard to
family planning, I would welcome the opportunity to talk about it
with you,

With best wishes for your continued success, I am,

Sincerely yours,

Yat B Sal

Katherine B, Oettinger
Deputy Assistant Secretary for
Population and Family Planning

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