Background: The US infant mortality rate decreased to 7.2 in 1996, approaching the Year 2000 goal of 7 deaths per 1,000 live births. However, infant mortality data historically demonstrated that infant mortality rates for African Americans, American Indians and some Hispanic subgroups are higher than this national average. The greatest disparity in infant mortality rates exists for African Americans whose infant mortality rate (14.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1996) was 2.7 times that of white infants (6.0 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1996). The rates of preterm births among African American women is 4.1 times higher than white women. Surgeon General Satcher has targeted elimination of this disparity by the Year 2010.Method: Community based FIMR is an action-oriented continuous quality improvement process that may play an significant role in understanding community issues associated with racial disparity and developing racially and culturally sensitive interventions. This presentation will describe the FIMR process, discuss the potential role of this method, and provide specific examples of successful, new community partnerships as well as interventions developed by culturally diverse FIMRs related to local maternal and infant health issues where disparity in outcomes exists (e.g., premature delivery and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
Learning Objectives: Discuss the role of community based FIMR as a tool to identify issues related to health disparities in infant outcome. List culturally relevant FIMR interventions that communities have implemented to reduce health disparities in infant outcome
Keywords: Community Preventive Services, Infant Mortality
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.