Infant mortality differences between whites and African Americans: the effect of maternal education.
OBJECTIVE
Despite decreasing infant mortality in North Carolina, the gap between African Americans and Whites persists. This study examined how racial differences in infant mortality vary by maternal education.


METHODS
Data came from Linked Birth and Infant Death files for 1988 through 1993. Multiple logistic regression models adjusted for confounders.


RESULTS
Infant mortality risk ratios comparing African Americans and Whites increased with higher levels of maternal education. Education beyond high school reduced risk of infant mortality by 20% among Whites but had little effect among African Americans.


CONCLUSIONS
Higher education magnifies racial differences in infant mortality on a multiplicative scale. Possible reasons include greater stress, fewer economic resources, and poorer quality of prenatal care among African Americans.
Din-Dzietham
R
R
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.
Hertz-Picciotto
I
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001719:Birth Certificates; D003644:Death Certificates; D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education*; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000592:standards; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*