Health Disparities Among African American Infants

Introduction Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) also known as infant death rate, is the death of an infant before his or her first birthday. Infant mortality is calculated, by the number of children who die under a year of age divided by the number of live births that year. Infant mortality rate is very important as it relates to the health of pregnant women, children and infants and it’s associated with maternal health, quality and access to medical care, socioeconomic conditions, and public health practices. The most important purpose of this review is to examine and understand why African American infants are disproportionately affected and the factors(Low birth weight, preterm birth weight and very low birth weight and infant mortality)†¦show more content†¦Among 42 reporting states during the years 2003- 2005, Wisconsin had the second highest African American infant mortality rate (IMR) at 16.4 deaths per live births. The city of Milwaukee, which is home to over half ( 63%) of the African American population in Wisconsin, experiences similar racial disparities. Between 2003 and 2007, Milwaukee infants were 3 times more likely to die within the first year of life. These racial disparities have remained consistent over the past 15 years. In 2007, the leading cause of African American deaths in Milwaukee was disorders related to low birth weight and preterm birth. Researchers reported from 1993 to 2006, African American women were 3 times more likely to have preterm birth and low birth weight than white women (Wisconsin Medical Journal 2010 V. 109). Researchers investigated the connection between racial disparities in infant mortality and education (an indicator of socioeconomic status). Between 2002 and 2004, African American women with education beyond high school were still 3 times more likely than whites to experience an infant death. Another comparison revealed that African Americans with education beyond high school were STILL twice as likely t o experience infant death as white women who did not graduate from high school. (Wisconsin Medical Journal 2010 V. 109) The state of Arkansas Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) conducted a study that revealed the same findings as theShow MoreRelatedEssay On Structural Violence1142 Words   |  5 Pagesadvocates to want to reduce black infant mortality. Most efforts that have been made to reduce this type of disparity among the African American community is the supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Many times, if women are below a certain income level they can qualify for WIC which provides them with resources, many of which contribute to healthy birth outcomes. 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