Wisconsin ranks among the worst states in the nation for African-American infant mortality, according to the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
According to proposal for a community action planning grant request from the UWSMPH, most of these deaths are in four cities: Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha and Beloit. Milwaukee alone accounts for 77 percent of the deaths.
The Wisconsin Partnership Program, a program through the UWSMPH dedicated to the health and well-being of Wisconsin, started the Healthy Birth Outcomes Initiative to change the disparities between infant mortality rates for African-American and white infants.
In Wisconsin, the African-American infant mortality rate is three to four times higher than white infant mortality. The average African American infant mortality rate from 2002-2006 was 17 percent, and for white births 5.2 percent, according to the UWSMPH.
Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha and Beloit will be awarded Community Action Planning Grants, through the WPP's Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families, for plans to improve birth rates and decrease the infant health disparities.
Andrain Horton, an African-American mother from Milwaukee, gave birth to her daughter Abrina three and half months prematurely.
""She was only 1 lb and 3 ounces when she was born,"" Horton said.
According to Cathy Frey, associate director of the WPP, premature births are one of the main causes of African-American infant mortality.
""The answer for this problem is not just about prenatal care,"" Frey said. ""The plans should include health care before, during and after pregnancy, along with programs for strong African-American families.""
The WPP chose the Healthy Births Outcome Initiative ""to really make an impact,"" Frey said. She added, ""This was really an unacceptable problem. We felt compelled to put our resources to this.""
According to Frey, white infant mortality rates have declined since the mid-'80s. But the same cannot be said for the African American infant mortality rate, which has remained steady.
""You'd have thought you would see improvements among all races, but you don't,"" Frey said. ""Milwaukee is dead last in the country with disparities.""
And it is not just certain portions of the African-American community that face this problem.
""It's consistent across socio-economic issues,"" Frey said.
According to Frey, the biggest contributor to low birth outcomes is stress. Horton said stress contributed to her daughter's early birth.
""I had a lot going on,"" said Horton, who had a job and was going to school. ""I was still doing the same things that I did before I was pregnant. It was stressful.""
According to Frey, stress can be caused by things such as jobs, poverty, racism and safety.
""Stresses accumulate over the course of life,"" Frey said. ""What we aim to do is reduce the stress factors and increase the positive factors.""
The first step the program is doing to change these factors is asking the four cities to come up with a plan to improve African American birth outcomes.
""We are looking at a long-term commitment and working with community partners to reduce the disparities,"" Frey said. ""It's like a negotiated partnership with each community.""
Lorraine Lathen, program leader for LIHF, said each community will have 12 to 18 months to develop a plan. First, the communities will submit proposals, which are being accepted until Jan. 31, 2010.
Lathen said, ""LIHF has committed $10 million over a five- to 10-year period.""
The first year, Racine, Kenosha and Beloit will receive up to $200,000 and Milwaukee will get up to $250,000 to develop community collaboratives and action plans. When the action plans are approved, the cities will receive more funds to implement them.
""There is a 12-point plan called ‘closing the black-white gap in birth outcomes,'"" Lathen said. ""They must choose one point from each category to address.""
The three categories are: improving health care for African- American Women, strengthening African-American families and communities and addressing social and economic inequalities.
After more than four months in the hospital, Horton's baby survived.
""She's a very happy and healthy baby,"" Horton added. ""But she's had some complications and surgeries.
""Women need to be educated,"" Horton said. ""There are a lot of single women who are very busy, still doing the same things as before they were pregnant.""
Lathen agrees.
""We really try to work in a way to allow African Americans to live in healthy environments,"" Lathen said. ""We also want to deal with those social conditions that cause adverse birth outcomes such as employment, housing, safe neighborhoods, food and health care.""
