The Maternity Care Project is focusing on ways to reduce racial disparities in maternal and infant health within the State of Michigan. If you are a healthcare professional, advocate, community health professional, employer or policy expert and want to contribute to your talents to this effort, please contact Stacy Leick at stacyleick@eamonline.org.
Study on the Racial Disparity Gap in the State of Michigan
For the past ten years, and even more, the State of Michigan has struggled to lower its infant mortality rate to be below the national average. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data, in 2019, Michigan recorded the fifteenth highest infant mortality rate in the country (6.33).¹ The United States, as a whole, has the eleventh highest infant mortality rate out of the forty-four countries participating in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an international coalition of countries creating policies to improve living conditions throughout the world.²
Why is this happening in a country that is considered a world superpower? Why is the State of Michigan not making progress in improving the start of life for future residents? Backed by data, this briefing will very clearly demonstrate the answer. The study will focus on the State of Michigan with added national comparisons that show correlations to a possible broader, nationwide issue. The following data and trends will establish a significant difference between White and Black Infant mortality rates that are creating an alarming racial disparity gap that hinders Michigan’s future talent development.