Gap behind the numbers: The perspectives of African American women on infant mortality

Twice as many African American infants die each year when compared to white infants. While infant mortality rates have declined for all ethnic groups in the United States over the past fifty years, the racial gap has remained persistent, and is not fully understood despite numerous quantitative studies. Two separate studies used interpretive phenomenology as a method to explore and understand the lived experiences of African American women in relationship to the African American gap in infant mortality. A total of thirty African American women participated in either a focus group or in-depth interviews. Women were asked to use their life experiences to identify factors that would increase the understanding of African American infant mortality. Several themes emerged indicating that the experience of stress and racism are constant factors in African American women's lives and are inseparable from their pregnancy experience. Health professionals must form strong interpersonal relationships with African American women and advocate for comprehensive health care that is culturally sensitive regardless of pregnancy status. Providing health care during prenatal and postpartum periods has not addressed the issues surrounding infant mortality in a holistic manner. It is paramount that research methods be expanded to adequately explore the complexities of race and the impact of racism on health and illness.