African American's awareness of disparities in infant mortality rates and sudden infant death syndrome risks.
African American infant mortality rates (IMR) in San Francisco have remained 2.5 to three times those of Whites for over 20 years.


METHODS
A 69-item telephone survey of African American residents in four neighborhoods with the most African American births assessed awareness of IMR disparities, associated risks, and social capital.


RESULTS
Of the 804 respondents, 57% were not aware of the IMR disparity. Higher levels of awareness occurred in those volunteering (OR 1.5, CI 1.1-2.0), participating in efforts to benefit the African American community (OR 1.8, CI 1.3-2.4), sensing that they belonged in their neighborhood (OR 1.7, CI 1.2-2.3), and being aware of a local African American-led initiative to improve infant health (OR 2.3, CI 1.7-3.9). Lack of awareness can be a barrier to a population's engagement in improving its overall health.


CONCLUSIONS
Lack of awareness of IMR disparities and risk factors exists in the San Francisco African American population and is related to less social capital. Improving awareness is a prerequisite for implementing community level interventions.
Oliva
Geraldine
G
University of California, San Francisco Family Health Outcomes Project, San Francisco, CA 94143-0900, USA.
Rienks
Jennifer
J
Smyly
Virginia
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003256:Community Participation; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000639:trends; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012495:San Francisco / Q000453:epidemiology; D012933:Social Identification; D012944:Social Support; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000208:ethnology*; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult