By Ogechi Nna
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Infant Mortality
Factors
 Infant Mortality is defined as
 Maternal health
the number of infant deaths
under one year of age .
 Infant mortality rate is one of
the key indicators of a
nation's health status.
 Quality and access to medical
care
 Socioeconomic conditions
 Public health practices.
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What Is A Health Disparity:
A Health Disparity is a health condition or disease that
is higher for one group than the general population.
I.e. Not equal.
Ex. Diabetes, Lung Cancer, Mortality Rate, &
Obesity
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Why Infant Mortality is a Health
Disparity
 The Infant Mortality rate
for African-Americans is
at a startling high
compared to other races.
Race
Education
Social
Economic
Status
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Mortality Rate of Developed Nations
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(Figure 1)
Infant Mortality in the United States
 The United States is currently 176th in the world in
infant mortality with a rate of 6.06 deaths per 1000
lives.
 In 2006, the mortality rate among African-American
infants was 13.8 deaths per 1,000 live births. This was 2
½ times the rate among Caucasians (5.6 per 1,000)
and Hispanic infants (5.5 per 1,000).
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Causes Of Infant Mortality
Causes
Congenital
Low Birth Rate
Malformations
Sudden Infant
Death
Syndrome
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Low Birth Weight in the U.S.
(Figure 2)
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Infant Mortality In Massachusetts
 Although every race experiences infant mortality,
African-Americans suffer from a higher infant
mortality rate.
 In 2007, the infant morality rate for African-Americans
in Massachusetts was 2.6 times higher than
Caucasians.
 African-Americans suffered 10.2 deaths per 1,000 live
births, while Caucasians experienced 3.9 deaths per
1,000 live births.
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Infant Mortality by Race/Hispanic
Ethnicity: Massachusetts Total
Area IMR Percent
State IMR Percent
Caucasian
4.0
4.0
African-American
11.0
11.0
Hispanic
7.1
7.1
Asian/Pacific
Islander
2.6
2.6
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(Figure 3) From MassChip 2006-2008
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(Figure 4) From Mass.gov (2003 - 2005)
Worcester’s Infant Death Rate
Worcester's infant mortality rate more than doubled from 2004 to 2005,
reaching 13.9 deaths per 1,000 live births - the highest rate in the state.
The city's rate is up from 6.6 in 2004, with a three-year average of 8.2
deaths per 1,000 births.
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Infant Mortality by Race/Hispanic
Ethnicity: Worcester
Area IMR Percent
State IMR Percent
Caucasian
4.8
4.0
African-American
14.1
11.0
Hispanic
17.4
7.1
Asian/Pacific Islander
N/A
2.6
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(Figure 5) From MassChip 2006-2008
Factors Affecting Infant Mortality
In Massachusetts and Worcester
1.
Education:
Babies born to mothers with less education are more likely to
die before reaching their first birthdays.
 The Infant Mortality rate for mother s with 13-15 years of
education is 40% higher then those with 16 or more years of
education.

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Factors Affecting Infant Mortality
In Worcester and Massachusetts
 Cultural and Language Barriers:
 Infertility: Massachusetts has the highest rate in vitro
fertilization
 No Prenatal’s
Low Birth Weight
 Other Factors: poverty, smoking, and other
socioeconomic forces.
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Reducing Infant Mortality in
Massachusetts and the U.S.
 Worcester Healthy Start Initiative Helps women get pre- and postnatal health services available for
free to all pregnant women and
families with babies.
 WIC - Provides nutritious foods,
nutrition education, and referrals to
health and other social services to
participants at no charge.
 Prams– The Pregnancy Risk
Assessment Monitoring System,
collects state-specific, populationbased data on maternal attitudes
and experiences before, during, and
shortly after pregnancy.
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Conclusion
Year
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
AfricanAmerican
Infant
Mortality
Rate in the U.S
14.4 14.0 13.8 13.7 13.8 13.3 N/A
AfricanAmerican
Infant
Mortality
Rate in MA
11.6 12.7 11.6 9.4 11.2 10.2 11.7
• Since 2002, the infant mortality rate for African-Americans is steadily
increasing. Programs such as WIC, Worcester Healthy Start Initiative,
and Prams is working with the government to end the Infant Mortality
disparity. Most importantly, receive prenatal care!
(Figure 6) Source: Massachusetts Department of
Public Health from 1999-2008 & The CDC
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References
 Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011, February 16). PRAMS-Pregnancy Risk
Assessment Monitoring System| CDC Reproductive Health. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. Retrieved July 17, 2011, from
http://www.cdc.gov/PRAMS/
 Cooney, Elizabeth & Plourd, Kate (2007, January 24). Infant mortality rate doubles in
Worcester; City's 13.9 deaths per 1,000 births leads state The Free Library. (2007).
Retrieved July 17, 2011 from http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Infant mortality rate
doubles in Worcester; City's 13.9 deaths per...-a0160494040
 Department of Public Health. (2010, April 5). Race/Hispanic Ethnicity Report - Birth and
Perinatal Indicators. Mass.Gov. Retrieved July 17, 2011, from
www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/.../masschip/.../hsicountyworcester.rtf (Figure 3 & 5)
 Department of Public Health. (June, 2007). Regional Health Status Indicators Boston
Massachusetts. Mass.gov. Retrieved July 12, 2011, from
http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dph/research_epi/boston_region_report.pd
f (Figure 4)
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References
 MacDorman, M. F., Ph.D.., Mathews, T., & M.S.. (2009, November). Products - Data Briefs -




Number 23 - November 2009. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Retrieved July 13, 2011, from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db23.htm
(Figure 1)
Massachusetts Department of Public Health. (2010, April 5). MassCHIP Massachusetts
Community Health Information Profile.Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
Retrieved July 14, 2011, from
http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dph/masschip/perinatal_trends/perinataltr
endscity_townlawrence.rtf (Figure 6)
Resources and Services Administration. (n.d.). Health Status, Infants - Child Health USA
2008-2009. U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources. Retrieved July 11,
2011, from http://mchb.hrsa.gov/chusa08/hs (Figure 2)
The Office Of Minority Health. (2007). Infant mortality disparities fact sheet - african
americans. Retrieved from
http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates/content.aspx?ID=6903&lvl=2&lvlID=117
Umass Medical School. (n.d.). UMass Medical School - Worcester.Welcome to the University
of Massachusetts Medical School - Worcester. Retrieved July 19, 2011, from
http://www.umassmed.edu/pap/pubs/partners/infant_mortality.aspx
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