NPR Examines High Infant Mortality Among Blacks In Southern States

Infant Mortality

NPR's "Morning Edition"on Thursday reported on efforts to lower the infant mortality rateamong blacks. Infants born to black women are twice as likely to die intheir first year as infants born to white women, "Morning Edition"reports. The disparity exists both among low-income women andwell-educated, affluent women. While infant mortality nationwide hasdeclined steadily since 1960, some Southern states have seen the ratestagnate or increase in recent years.

Alan Brann, professor of pediatrics at Emory University,said it is unclear why the infant mortality rate is greater amongblacks, but a high rate of very low birth weight infants contributes tothe problem. Low birthweight "is an indicator of the status of healthof the community," Brann said, adding, "It's the best canary we have inthe mine to say this population that has high rates of very lowbirthweight babies are not healthy people."

Access to prenatalcare and primary care between pregnancies also contributes to poormaternal and fetal health, "Morning Edition" reports. In addition,requirements that Medicaid applicants present original birthcertificates and apply in person make it difficult for some women toobtain coverage. In rural areas, women must travel long distances tosee providers, few of whom accept Medicaid, according to JaniceJohnson, a social worker with Delta Health Partners.

Oleta Fitzgerald, Southern regional director of the Children's Defense Fund,said the high infant mortality rate in the Southern U.S. is tied topoverty. "Nobody wants to take care of poor children, whether they areblack or white or whatever color," Fitzgerald said, adding, "So it is amoral issue, and it is something that we are going to have to dealwith" (Lohr, "Morning Edition," NPR, 6/21).

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