title: Conquering racial disparities in perinatal outcomes.
abstract: Infant mortality rate (IMR) is a reference indicator for societal health status. Trend analysis of IMR highlights 2 challenges to overcome in the United States: (1) US IMR is higher than most industrialized countries and (2) there are persistent racial/ethnic disparities in birth outcomes, especially for blacks. Racial/ethnic infant mortality disparities result from the complex interplay of adverse social, economic, and environmental exposures. In this article, racial/ethnic disparities are discussed, highlighting trends, the role of epigenetics in understanding mechanisms, key domains of community action planning, and programs and policies addressing the racial gaps in adverse birth outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Center for the Advancement of Underserved Children, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 West Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA. Electronic address: ewillis@mcw.edu.
authors.forename: Earnestine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.affiliation: Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin, Inc., 3020 West Vliet Street, Milwaukee, WI 53208-2461, USA.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McManus
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Center for the Advancement of Underserved Children, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 West Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Magallanes
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Center for the Advancement of Underserved Children, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 West Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
authors.forename: Sheri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 West Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
authors.forename: Amber
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Majnik
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000235:genetics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality / Q000208:ethnology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D018743:Perinatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D063505:Racism; D012923:Social Class; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Adverse birth outcomes; African American infant mortality; Life course; Low birth weight; Preterm births; Racial and ethnic disparities; Resiliency; Social determinants of health