What is Infant Mortality?

Infant mortality is when a baby dies before she/he reaches the age of one year old. Historically infant mortality has always been higher in the Black community, and in some states it exceeds twenty-two babies per thousand births, meaning that out of a thousand births twenty-two babies will not live to celebrate their first year birthday.

The excess rates of Low Birth Weight (LBW) and infant mortality among children born to Black women have been increasing. The research and programs to counter these disparities have been based on two well known facts: 1) Infant mortality rates are higher among poor and less educated women; and, 2) Black women in the U.S. have always endured higher levels of poverty than white American women.

The typical answer to this has always been that the highest rates of LBW and infant mortality rates among Black women are due to our higher rates of poverty. However research has proved that Black women have fared worse than white American women at every economic level.

When the facts are more closely examined we see a different picture among Black women. More to the point in other words:

Infant Mortality Prevention Definitions:

How do Midwives Decrease Infant Mortality?

Prenatal outreach for Black women is paramount to help reduce infant mortality. Prenatal care should be woman-centered. Prenatal outreach is based on the premise that people's perception of their lot in life and solutions to their problems must come from themselves.

Prenatal outreach helps to problem solve. It creates an atmosphere for self-empowerment and fosters a renewed commitment to control one's life. It is women-powered and woman-centered. It encourages teamwork and can help bolster a greater sense of self-esteem in women, who can then say: thank you I/we did it ourselves with culturally appropriate prenatal care.

Webster defines prenatal care as: Prenatal care should consist of an emotional/spiritual interview, a nutritional assessment, a complete physical and, with the permission of the client a meeting with her significant other/s.

Prenatal Philosophy should include the knowledge and appreciation of the rich cultural heritage of African Americans. An African-centered style of prenatal care involves counseling, the laying on of hands (a hug) and teaching by example, communication and prayer.

It is important to include prenatal visits in the home as often as possible. Home care sensitizes you to the support and challenges that the mother has during her pregnancy. I believe also that it strengthens the relationships between the midwife and the family.

Good prenatal care is necessary throughout pregnancy and continues into post-natal care after the baby's birth. Effort should be made to reach out to women as early as possible, and remain connected to them throughout the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum stages. Prenatal care must go beyond the medical model of a fifteen-minute impersonal visit and offer culturally appropriate care.

Basic skills needed for prenatal care:

Contact ICTC

International Center for Traditional Childbearing
2823 N. Portland Blvd.
Portland, Oregon 97217
Phone: 503-460-9324
Email ICTC: ictc@comcast.net
Email Shafia Monroe: sistahmidwife@msn.com

 

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