Undoubtedly, the causality of infant mortality disparity seen among African American soon-to-be mothers is a major public health concern. It may not be one that can simply be measured by disparities in adulthood but shaped across an individual’s lifetime and potentially across generations as Freire (2000) eluded to in Pedagogy of the oppressed. In Orange County, FL whether the concerns streamed from Oppression or Residential Segregation or other additional factors, focusing on Communities and increasing collective efficacy mechanisms are vital and will be assessed.
People & Place
The Orange County, FL has a population just over 1.2 million people, where approximately 64% of the population is White, 20% Black and just over 16% of the population living below the poverty line (United States Census Bureau, 2010). The overall infant mortality rate is 7.5, exceeding the rate of the US (6.7) and Florida (6.1) (Florida Charts, 2014). The health disparity between African-Americans (13.5) and Whites (5.6), in the county is not only higher, but actually widens in comparison to the …show more content…
Lu et al., (2010) asserts “Elimination of racial disparities in birth outcomes is attainable if we look at the life course, and make intergenerational and social investments in communities.” In devoting time and resources to improving this disparity, education is the critical factor in mitigating this. In the article, A Quiet Crisis, Dr. Yvonne Maddox stresses the importance of understanding cultural competency in delivering the message (as cited in Tomer, n.d). Dr. Maddox further states, the assumption is often made that “at-risk-groups just do not get it,” but there are other factors, including lack of trust, not knowing that resources are available, or even knowing that a problem exists (as cited in Tomer, n.d). Subsequently the following questions were considered in conducting the