Here’s what we know: In Kent County, Black and Latinx infants are more likely than White infants to die before the age of one, to be born with low birthweight, or to be born prematurely. Women (mothers) of color are also less likely than White mothers to receive prenatal care throughout their pregnancy. Social determinants of health such as poverty, income, housing stability, and education are good predictors of health outcomes in a community, however, economic disparities extend beyond the ability to meet basic needs.
Infant mortality rates are a measure of the general health and well-being of a community, and an important component in identifying health disparities. While differences in infant mortality rates among population groups may indicate unequal access to quality healthcare before, during, and between pregnancies, infant mortality can also reflect the adequacy of health services reflective of systemic and historical inequities, along with the inequities reflected in a community’s ability to enable children to reach their full potential.
Here to discuss how this all fits together is Marissa Brown, RN and BSN, Fetal Infant Mortality Review Coordinator with the Kent County Health Department. For more information visit: normalwasneverenough.org/, ncfrp.org/fimr-map/fimr-spotlight-michigan/, and https://www.firststepskent.org/articles/responding-to-infant-mortality-in-kent-county
