Healthy moms-healthy babies-healthy community (H3) initiative: Concept mapping and community members' beliefs on the impact of racism on infant mortality

Objective: Through participation in a Kellogg Foundation Action Learning Collaborative, the Healthy Moms – Healthy Babies – Healthy Community (H3) Initiative aims to reduce infant mortality through community engagement, focusing specifically on the impact of racism. Methods: Concept mapping is a multi-pronged community-based process that includes brainstorming an issue, rating responses, sorting into themes, and computer-based spatial grouping. Community members from areas of Fort Worth with the highest rates of infant mortality were invited to generate ideas of how the community could decrease racial disparities in infant mortality. Ideas were rated on participation, impact, and time to implement change. Results: Seventy-two community members produced 289 statements for review, with 133 statements used for rating. Twelve actionable themes emerged: 1) connect people to resources 2) healthy environments from birth to old age 3) create partnerships among existing programs or new community programs 4) raise socioeconomic opportunities through educational incentives 5) build relationships within and outside the community 6) increase access to life skills education 7) increase parenting education 8) renew community structures 9) improve access to healthy foods 10) focus on strengths and reduce weaknesses within the community 11) empower the community to set and keep standards 12) break the cycle of race-connected social stigmas. Results were presented to community members for feedback and consensus. Conclusion: Concept mapping identified the community's priorities for reducing perceived racial impacts on infant mortality and will implement interventions to decrease racial disparities in infant mortality. H3 strength lies in its partnership with the local community.