US Infant Mortality Rates: An Exploration of Black/White Disparities, Current Trends, and Social Inequalities

The purpose of this paper is to explore 10-year trends in infant mortality rates (IMRs) from 2007 to 2016 for non-Hispanic (NH) blacks and NH whites by levels of sociodemographic characteristics such as maternal age, marital status, education, and access to prenatal care. Using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Wonder Online database, descriptive statistics were performed, and a measure of disparity was calculated to illustrate racial differences in IMRs. Between 2007 and 2016, IMRs for NH blacks have declined at a faster rate (15.8%) compared to NH whites (13.5%). As for the selected sociodemographic indicators, reductions were observed for both racial groups for most age categories assessed, married and unmarried women, and for women with early or no access to prenatal care. For educational attainment levels, declines were observed for both racial groups for all levels except for high school graduate or GED and some college, in which increases were observed for NH white women. The measure of disparity illustrates the large racial gap in IMRs persists between NH blacks and NH whites. More structural and systemic mechanisms, including research and policies, are needed to address the disparities in IMRs.