AFRICAN AMERICANS:

  • African Americans have more than twice the infant mortality rate as whites. African American infants are almost 4 times as likely to die due to complications related to low birth weight as compared to white infants
  • The top three leading causes of infant deaths for African Americans are:
    1. Low-birth weight
    2. Congenital malformations
    3. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
  • African Americans had 2.1 times the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) mortality rates as whites.
  • African American mothers were 2.6 times more likely than white mothers to begin prenatal care in the 3 rd trimester, or not receive prenatal care at all.
  • The infant mortality rate for African American mothers with over 13 years of education was almost three time that of white mothers in 2004.

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Hispanics:

  • The infant mortality rate ranges from 4.6 per 1,000 live births for Cubans and 7.8 per 1,000 live births for Puerto Ricans.
  • Puerto Rican Americans have a 40% higher infant mortality rate as compared to non-Hispanic whites.
  • Hispanic mothers are 2.5 times more likely to begin prenatal care I the 3 rd trimester or not receive prenatal care at all as compared to non-Hispanic white mothers.
  • Puerto Rican infants were twice as likely to die from causes related to low birth weight, compared to non-Hispanic white infants.
  • Mexican American mothers were 2.5 times likely as non-Hispanic white mothers to begin prenatal care in the 3 rd trimester, or not receive prenatal at all.
  • The top four leading causes of infant deaths for Hispanic Americans are:
    1. Congenital malformations
    2. Low birth weight
    3. Newborn affected by maternal complications of pregnancy
    4. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)