Infant Mortality Rate Among African American Women

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During my research for this paper, I determined that there is a high infant mortality rate among African-American women in the United States. According to a National Vital Statistics Report, United States is ranked the highest among all countries in the world for infant mortality rate (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2014). Statistics have also shown that infant mortality rate is the highest among African-Americans both statewide and nationwide and also including Franklin County, where I currently reside. I wanted to further explore the possibilities of why these numbers are much higher for the African-American woman.
Many factors can contribute to these mortality rates, which could include late prenatal care, increased poverty level, and lack of knowledge. Within my county, an extremely high percentage of mothers did not receive prenatal care during their first trimester of pregnancy. According to a study done by Hauck, Tanabe, and Moon (2011), the three leading causes of infant mortality are contributed to a short gestational age and low birth weight, congenital malformations, and maternal complications related to pregnancy. African-American women are twice as likely to deliver premature infants, increasing the risk of infant deaths due to low birth rate. Another study also confirmed that African-American women had the highest level among all ethnic groups for delivering a preterm infant with increased mortality (MacDorman & Mathews, 2011). Public health education in the community and encouragement for early prenatal care could help decrease the mortality rate among all infants. Healthy People 2020 wants to improve the well-being of women, infants, children, and families. By improving health care and reducing the risk of maternal and infant complications, mortality can be reduced (ODPHP, 2014). A study found that with each 10 percent increase in public health spending it shows a decline in mortality of 1.1 percent to 6.9 percent (Williams, 2013). This study also concluded that states that contributed a moderate amount of spending toward education had a better overall population of health and reduction in infant mortality. Studies have also shown that increased stressors, such as racism, can increase an African- Americans susceptibility of infant mortality (Hauck, Tanabe, & Moon, 2011). Minorities have experienced some form of discrimination during their lifestyle, which can become an added form of stress, especially during pregnancy. According to Williams (2013), studies have shown that discrimination is associated with increased negative health conditions. These conditions can lead to a poor life-style and eating habits, poor sleep quality, elevated blood pressure, and delay in prenatal care or follow-up appointments. Racism also contributes to added stressors that can create unemployment and poverty. Neighborhoods, where a majority of minorities live in the area, show they have a higher rate of unemployment, which produces lower income and poverty for these families (Williams, 2013). Healthy People 2020 realizes that various social determinants can have an impact on meeting daily needs, such as quality education and job training with access to job opportunities (ODPHP, 2014). No employment can also contribute to no health insurance and less pregnant mothers seeking prenatal care. My county has a higher rate of African-American’s, compared to the national average, by almost double. The poverty rate within my county is also above the average of

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