Recorded presentation

Geraldine Oliva, MD, MPH, Family Health Outcomes Project, Dept. of Family and Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California St, Suite 365, San Francisco, CA 94118, 415-476-5283, dyleli@itsa.ucsf.edu, Jennifer Rienks, PhD(c), Family Health Outcomes Project, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California Street Suite 365, San Francisco, CA 94118, Virginia Smyly, MPH, CHES, San Francisco Department of Public Health, Community Health Promotion & Prevention, 30 Van Ness Ave, Suite 2300, San Francisco, CA 94102, Judith A. Hager, MPH, MA, Family and Community Medicine, Family Health Outcomes Project, University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California St., Suite 365, San Francisco, CA 94118, and Linda D. Mack Burch, MPH, Family Health Outcomes Project, Depart. of Family and Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California Street, Suite 365, San Francisco, CA 94118.

Between 1991-2001, the African American infant mortality rate in San Francisco remained three times that of whites. Focus groups showed little awareness of these disparities. Objective: To quantify the level of awareness of the infant mortality disparity and related risk factors in African Americans (AA) residing in San Francisco. Methods: A telephone survey was conducted in the four neighborhoods with the highest number of AA births. Results: 804 AA between the ages of 18-64 years old were surveyed (62.8% female, 37.2% male, 28% 18-39, 31.5 % 40-54, 40% 55 – 64). 57.3% of respondents had never heard that black infants were more likely to die than white infants. Respondents under 40 were significantly more likely to have never heard of this disparity (69.9% vs. 52.4%, X2 = 22.1, p<.0001). There were no significant gender or neighborhood differences. Lack of awareness of disparities was significantly associated with a decreased likelihood of volunteering in their communities. 31% of respondents didn’t know that putting infants to sleep on their backs helps to prevent SIDS. Lack of awareness of proper sleep position and other SIDS risk factors was significantly associated with a lower level of education, several measures of community cohesiveness and sense of belonging. Conclusion: AA in San Francisco are not aware of key risks for infants in their community. Implications: An intensive community awareness campaign is needed before mobilizing a community for a project to decrease disparities. This paper will also discuss the results of a follow-up survey after such a campaign.

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