The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #74042

Ramona Benson, CHW Specialist¹, Jason Stanford, CHW Specialist², and Yvonne Lacey¹. (1) Black Infant Health Program, Public Health Division, 1767 Alcatraz, Berkeley, CA 94703, 510-981-5205, ylacey@ci.berkeley.ca.us, (2) Black Infant Health Program, Division of Public Health, 1767 Alcatraz, Berkeley, CA 94703

Indisputably, infant mortality is a tragedy that touches lives across the nation. This tragedy is even more alarming in the African American community. From 1993 through 1995, the low birth weight (LBW) rate in white Berkeley residents was 42/100, while in the African-American population the rate was 166/1000. This demonstrated the largest disparity for any city population(100,000) in the country. The purpose of the Black Infant Health (BIH) Program is to eliminate this disparity and improve related health status indicators. The State goal is designed to identify "at-risk" pregnant and parenting African-American women,and reduce infant mortality and morbidity through a comprehensive community-based effort. The Program works to assure that at-risk pregnant women have quality maternal and child health services and to provide them assistance that will aid in their accessing and maintaining appropriate health care and receiving other family supportive services. Additionally, BIH assures that appropriate pediatric and preventive baby care, including immunizations are available and accessible to all children in the family and community for the first two years of life. Community Health Workers (CHWs) are primarily responsible for the outreach, individual assessments, follow-up of Mother and Infant for two years, co- facilitating group discussions, as well as developing partnerships with Public Health Nurses and relationships with community resources and referral services. In this session, female and male CHWs will discuss preliminary results, current successes, new innovations, and challenges.

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees wil become aware of the alarming statistical data supporting the mission of the BIH program.
• Attendees will learn about interventions used to accomplish the goal of eliminating the disproportionate African- American infant mortality rate in the African-American communities of California.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.