Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #118513

DeAnnah Byrd, MS, Department of Population Health Sciences, WI Public Health & Health Policy Institute, 753 WARF, Madison, WI 53726, (414)286-8051, deannahbyrd@yahoo.com and Patrick Remington, MD, MPH, Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 760 WARF Building, 610 Walnut St., Madison, WI 53726.

Background: Infant mortality and maternal health are two important indicators of overall health in a society. National objectives for maternal and infant health have been set for the year 2010 to reduce deaths among infants to less than 4.5 per 1000 live births among all racial/ethnic groups. Wisconsin's black infant mortality rate is one of the highest in the nation.

Objective: To determine the extent to which the risk factors of maternal age, maternal educational attainment, region of the state, and adequacy of prenatal care explain the black-white disparity in infant mortality in Wisconsin.

Method: We examined infant mortality data for 1998-2002, using the Wisconsin Interactive Statistics on Health (WISH) database. The study population consisted of 271,146 white infants and 31, 944 black infants. Logistic regression was used to examine the effect of race independent of other risk factors.

Result: Before statistical adjustment of the data, babies of black mothers had a 3-fold greater risk of infant death than those of white mothers. After adjustment for the model variables, the estimated risk ratio was reduced to 2.2 (95% confidence interval, 1.98 to 2.54).

Conclusion: Black race, apart from maternal age, maternal education, region of the state, and adequacy of prenatal care, is a strong predictor of infant mortality. This study suggests that prenatal care, delayed childbirth, and education could reduce the disparities in black infant mortality, partially, but not completely. Further research must identify the causes of the persistent higher rates of infant mortality among blacks.

Learning Objectives:

• To recognize that implementing evidence-based practices such as providing prenatal care and educational programs, only partially reduces the black-white disparity in infant mortality.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation