What Matters More, Maternal Characteristics or Differential Returns for Having Them? Using Decomposition Analysis to Explain Black-White Racial Disparities in Infant Mortality in the United States

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 282-289
Author(s):  
Chantel Ramraj ◽  
Arjumand Siddiqi ◽  
Salimah El-Amin ◽  
Darrick Hamilton
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Infant Mortality ◽  
Racial Disparities ◽  
Decomposition Analysis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Maternal Characteristics ◽  
What Matters ◽  
Differential Returns

Infant Mortality among Adolescent Mothers in the United States: A 5-Year Analysis of Racial and Ethnic Disparities

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew D. Moore ◽  
Anne E. Brisendine ◽  
Martha S. Wingate
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Infant Mortality ◽  
Ethnic Disparities ◽  
The United States ◽  
Racial And Ethnic Disparities ◽  
Postneonatal Mortality ◽  
Maternal Characteristics ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
Racial Ethnic

Objective This study was aimed to examine differences in infant mortality outcomes across maternal age subgroups less than 20 years in the United States with a specific focus on racial and ethnic disparities. Study Design Using National Center for Health Statistics cohort-linked live birth–infant death files (2009-2013) in this cross-sectional study, we calculated descriptive statistics by age (<15, 15–17, and 18–19 years) and racial/ethnic subgroups (non-Hispanic white [NHW], non-Hispanic black [NHB], and Hispanic) for infant, neonatal, and postneonatal mortality. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) were calculated by race/ethnicity and age. Preterm birth and other maternal characteristics were included as covariates. Results Disparities were greatest for mothers <15 and NHB mothers. The risk of infant mortality among mothers <15 years compared to 18 to 19 years was higher regardless of race/ethnicity (NHW: aOR = 1.40, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06–1.85; NHB: aOR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.04–1.56; Hispanic: aOR = 1.36, 95%CI: 1.07–1.74). Compared to NHW mothers, NHB mothers had a consistently higher risk of infant mortality (15–17 years: aOR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.03–1.21; 18–19 years: aOR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.15–1.27), while Hispanic mothers had a consistently lower risk (15–17 years: aOR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.66–0.78; 18–19 years: aOR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.70–0.78). Adjusting for preterm birth had a greater influence than maternal characteristics on observed group differences in mortality. For neonatal and postneonatal mortality, patterns of disparities based on age and race/ethnicity differed from those of overall infant mortality. Conclusion Although infants born to younger mothers were at increased risk of mortality, variations by race/ethnicity and timing of death existed. When adjusted for preterm birth, differences in risk across age subgroups declined and, for some racial/ethnic groups, disappeared. Key Points

Americans Misperceive Racial Disparities in Economic Mobility

2021 ◽  
pp. 014616722110241
Author(s):  
Shai Davidai ◽  
Jesse Walker
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Racial Disparities ◽  
American Dream ◽  
Black Americans ◽  
The United States ◽  
Economic Mobility ◽  
Systemic Racism ◽  
Economic Disparities ◽  
Lay Beliefs ◽  
Socioeconomic System

What do people know about racial disparities in “The American Dream”? Across six studies ( N = 1,761), we find that American participants consistently underestimate the Black–White disparity in economic mobility, believing that poor Black Americans are significantly more likely to move up the economic ladder than they actually are. We find that misperceptions about economic mobility are common among both White and Black respondents, and that this undue optimism about the prospect of mobility for Black Americans results from a narrow focus on the progress toward equality that has already been made. Consequently, making economic racial disparities salient, or merely reflecting on the unique hardships that Black Americans face in the United States, calibrates beliefs about economic mobility. We discuss the importance of these findings for understanding lay beliefs about the socioeconomic system, the denial of systemic racism in society, and support for policies aimed at reducing racial economic disparities.

NEEDED: Grassroots Leaders to Lead Systems Change Efforts that Reduce Infant Mortality

2020 ◽  
pp. 016059762096974
Author(s):  
Nathan Marquam ◽  
Ashley Irby ◽  
Nancy Swigonski ◽  
Kara Casavan ◽  
Jack Turman
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Infant Mortality ◽  
Birth Outcomes ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Marginalized Communities ◽  
Grassroots Movements ◽  
Reduce Infant Mortality ◽  
Reduction Strategies

The death of an infant devastates a mother, family and community. The United States has one of the highest infant mortality rates among the world’s high income nations. Infant mortality is a key indicator of a population’s health and societal well-being, yet interventions aimed at improving societal well-being are rarely a priority when devising infant mortality reduction strategies. Historically, grassroots movements have been critical in advancing social change to improve women’s health and empowerment in marginalized communities. Understanding strategic and infrastructure elements of these grassroots movements is a critical first step to efficiently growing USA grassroots movements to address social systems associated with poor birth outcomes. We provide an analysis of the diverse array of grassroots structures and strategies utilized to improve maternal and child health outcomes. It is time for grassroots movements to form and be recognized as vital players in efforts to sustainably reduce infant mortality in the United States. It is essential to foster grassroots leaders and movements that improve long standing social structures that contribute to poor birth outcomes. The personal and community knowledge of these leaders and community members are desperately needed to save women and infants in our nation.

scholarly journals The impact of changes in preterm birth among twins on stillbirth and infant mortality in the United States

2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (11) ◽  
pp. 823-829 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Getahun ◽  
K Demissie ◽  
S W Marcella ◽  
G G Rhoads
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Infant Mortality ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Impact
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document