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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Michele G. Shedlin, PhD, Institute for AIDS Research, National Development & Research Institutes, 71 West 23 St. 8th fl., New York, NY 10010, 212-845-4596, Mshedlin@aol.com, Lawrence C. Shulman, MSW, ACSW, Sociomedical Resource Associates, 181 Post Rd. West, Westport, CT 06880, Fabienne Laraque, MD, MPH, Office of Family Health, New York City Department of Health, 2 Lafayette Street, 18th Floor, Box 34A, New York, NY 10007, Avis Hammond, MHS, Director, Infant Mortality Reduction Initiative, Office of Family Health, New York City Department of Health, 20 New York Avenue, 1st Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11216, and Linda Mwaungulu, MPH, Infant Mortality Reduction Initiative, Office of Family Health, New York City Department of Health, 20 New York Avenue, 1stFloor, Brooklyn, NY 11216.
FACTORS AFFECTING INFANT MORTALITY AMONG AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN IN BROOKLYN, NY This qualitative study explored factors affecting African American infant mortality in a specific community with high rates of infant death. The objective was to establish a range of beliefs, attitudes and behaviors placing infants at risk. Mothers and providers of care to community families were interviewed during June-August, 2001. This paper presents the women's perspectives on the issue. A total of 32 women were recruited for 4 focus groups by DOH staff from area agencies. Results: The women described complex interactions of factors influencing high IM rates in their community, with no one cause nor "magic bullet" identified. Issues of environment, economics/poverty, culture, and quality of care were seen to place mothers and babies at risk. Salient risk factors identified included: 1) Unhealthy living environments; 2) Violence and a culture of violence, 3) Lack of perceived need for prenatal care by multiparous women/ teens; 4) Fear of disclosure of teen pregnancies and thus delayed or no prenatal care; 5) Drug use affecting the health of mothers and children; and as an obstacle to care; 6)Harmful beliefs/practices of infant care; 7)Lack of support during pregnancy/post partum; 8)Lack of positive male involvement; 9) Lack of provision of information, commitment and expertise of medical providers; 10)Lack of risk prevention education and programs. Recommendations for reducing infant mortality involved: group support; outreach; information; and violence prevention strategies for single mothers who deal with frustration, stress, and frequently, addiction.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Infant Mortality, Prenatal Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.