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ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A new report from Minnesota health officials says babies born to black mothers are more than twice as likely to die in infancy as children born to white mothers, giving the state one of the widest infant mortality gaps in the nation.
The state Department of Health report released Thursday says about 380 infants die in Minnesota each year. The Star Tribune (http://strib.mn/1Jbpdg0 ) reports Minnesota's overall infant mortality rate is among the 10 lowest in the country.
The leading cause of death is physical or neurological birth defects, but leading causes are different for blacks and American Indians. One quarter of African-American infant deaths were linked to prematurity. One quarter of American Indian newborn deaths were classified as sudden, or unexpected.
State health commissioner Dr. Ed Ehlinger said the sudden or unexpected deaths suggest a need for better education about safe sleeping positions, as well as tobacco use during pregnancies.
The mortality rate for infants of African-born mothers is lower than for U.S.-born black mothers, even though the former group has a higher poverty rate. State officials think the difference exists because mothers in largely immigrant communities get support and have role models.
"The baby gets a different kind of attention (in immigrant communities) than even in the white community," Ehlinger said. "So despite the economic risk factors, they have a lot of social support that helps keep their infants alive."
Recreating that sort of support elsewhere can help address disparities, officials say. Allina Health and others are using home visits by nurses to help new mothers. Nine Minnesota clinics, including United Family Medicine in St. Paul, are holding prenatal group appointments with parents.
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Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com
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