Causes Of Infant Mortality

As a first world country American infants should have a seemingly better start at life than many other countries. In recent decades America has made a strident effort in the progress towards lower Infant mortality rates resulting in a decline from 12.1-6.2 ( ). However, there is a concerning disparity between white American babies and black American babies in terms of infant mortality. The current Infant mortality rate for non-Hispanic white women is 5.11 deaths per 1,000 births. For Non-Hispanic black women the rate is 11.42 deaths per 1,000 births.. A high rate of infant mortality is seen equally in African Americans across the strata of the racial group showing no prejudice to SES, education, and other intrinsic factors such as education or access to health care. African American infant mortality rates are a severe social disparity in modern America as compared to other minority and non-minority groups regardless of SES, educational status, and age. This alarmingly oppositional data is both puzzling and startling to public health professionals and doctors alike as they attempt to determine a direct cause for such a devastating disparity

In the African American community the large infant mortality rates would seemingly be correlated poverty, lack of education, and inadequate access to prenatal care. African American women show a higher infant mortality even with higher social standing and education.( Gance-Cleveland, Locus, Wilson, 2011.) This therefore signifies another element that is as of yet undiscovered and subjective to further study. One suggested theory is that African American women go through a process in life called “Weathering.” According to Geronimus ,“weathering” is the cumulative effects of socioeconomic disa...

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...esearch is done light should be shed on the disproportionate differences between African American infants and other American born infants. Whether it be the proper education of the community on prenatal and postnatal care including co-sleeping, a new way to cope with the higher than average stressed placed upon this racial group, or a better patient/physician relationship to create a healthier pregnancy allowing for better birth outcomes. It is obvious that without further studies to understand and pinpoint exactly why and where changes can be made the infant mortality gap among African American will remain disproportionately high. However, if no one factor can be attributed to the African American infant mortality disparity hopefully enough studies can be done to compile evidence as to which method of prevention and education will benefit this disadvantaged group.