The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Office of Media Relations
January 18, 2000
Contact: Joy Carter
(205) 934-1676
[email protected]
STUDY FINDS RACIAL DIFFERENCES IN INFANT MORTALITY RATES
Birmingham, Ala. -- Infant mortality rates have declined significantly in recent decades in both white and black populations, however, racial disparities have increased, according to a study by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). "Black infants are more than twice as likely to die in the first year of life compared to white infants," says Greg R. Alexander, Sc.D., chair of the department of maternal and child health at UAB. Details of the study appear in this month's Maternal and Child Health Journal.
The study reviewed more than one million births and death certificates from the last two decades and found that infant mortality rates have declined 55 percent for whites and 37 percent for blacks. "Infant mortality rates are declining. That is cause for celebration," says Alexander. "But, we must address this growing racial disparity."
The reason for the difference is not clear. "Part of it is that black mothers have a higher risk of delivering preterm or low birth weight babies," says Alexander. "But, traditionally, black preterm infants have had a higher survival rate. That advantage seems to have eroded."
Researchers largely credit advances in technology with the decline in infant mortality rates across the board. "Advancements such as the development of man-made surfactant, an agent which helps fight respiratory illnesses in newborns, are wonderful, but it appears they may have disproportionately improved survival rates for white infants," says Alexander. "We need to take a closer look to learn why."
Socioeconomic factors, such as poverty and access to care, also may play a role in the widening disparity. "We need to focus on improving the survival rates of all infants -- not only babies born too early or too small, but full-term, normal weight births as well," says Alexander. "While we have more to learn about preventing preterm birth, many deaths of full-term, normal birth weight babies are preventable now. We know enough to do that and need to commit to making that happen."
Researchers hope the study will call attention to the need for action to reduce the disparity. "There's not one simple answer. We have to focus on specific areas, such as disparities among full-term babies, as well as preterm births. This study, hopefully, draws attention to the need to do that."
www.uab.edu/news
NOTE TO EDITORS: This month's Maternal and Child Health Journal is a special issue honoring Dr. Emile Papiernik of Paris, France. Papiernik, a leader in initial efforts to prevent preterm births in Europe and the U.S., is an adjunct faculty member with UAB's department of maternal and child health. The special issue is edited by Donna Petersen, ScD., associate professor of maternal and child health and the associate dean of the school of public health at UAB.
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