Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Individual- and County-Level Factors Associated with Racial Disparities in Cause-Specific Infant Mortality: Florida 1980–2000

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Applied Demography and Public Health

Part of the book series: Applied Demography Series ((ADS,volume 3))

  • 1595 Accesses

Abstract

The period 1980–2000 was important for infant health in the United States. During this time, dramatic social change and substantial improvements in medical perinatal care produced striking improvements in infant health and survival. Despite overall declines in infant mortality from all causes some evidence has suggested that relative racial disparities have persisted and even widened during this period. While the maternal socio-demographic factors associated with these racial disparities are well-established, several points remain unclear. First, there is some uncertainty regarding which causes have contributed to the widening racial disparities in infant mortality. Second, it is uncertain how the changing social context may have affected these patterns. Finally, it is unknown which has been more influential, changes in the social context or changes in maternal socio-demographic characteristics.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Without knowing specific cause of death, it is difficult to theorize about the individual contribution of factors associated with infant mortality. For example, area-level poverty isn’t likely to have a strong influence on deaths due to congenital anomalies. Since infants with congenital anomalies tend to die within minutes of birth, factors that influence the home environment of infants don’t usually have much effect on the infant when the infant doesn’t even come home from the hospital. Conversely, community-level variables that measure “rurality” or distance to medical facilities are likely to have a strong impact on deaths due to birth asphyxia (which occur when a woman experiences problems during delivery that delay the birth of the infant). If it takes a pregnant woman a significant amount of time from when her water breaks to when she gets care at a hospital, she faces increased risk of losing her infant due to birth asphyxia. Distance to a hospital is not likely to affect the health of an infant born with a congenital anomaly.

  2. 2.

    Birth weight is often considered a proxy for prematurity, where the lightest infants are gestationally the most immature. While some (Frisbie et al. 1997) have made the distinction between the etiologies leading to low birthweight as a result of prematurity versus low birthweight as the result of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), the majority of research on infant health and survival equates low birthweight with prematurity.

  3. 3.

    While we present regression coefficients in Table 7.3, we discuss them in terms of odds ratios in the narrative. We calculated odds ratios by hand, by exponentiating them, using the formula e x.

References

  • Abrams, B., Newman, V., Key, T., & Parker, J. (1989). Maternal weight gain and preterm delivery. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 74(4), 577–583.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ananth, C. V., Wilcox, A. J., Savitz, D. A., Bowes, W. A., & Luther, E. R. (1996). Effect of maternal age and parity on the risk of uteroplacental bleeding disorders in pregnancy. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 88(4 Pt 1), 511–516.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atrash, H. K., Johnson, K., Adams, M., Cordero, J. F., & Howse, J. (2006). Preconception care for improving perinatal outcomes: The time to act. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 10(5 Suppl), S3–S11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berkowitz, G. S., & Papiernik, E. (1993). Epidemiology of preterm birth. Epidemiologic Reviews, 15(2), 414–443.

    Google Scholar 

  • Binkin, N. J., Rust, K. R., & Williams, R. L. (1988). Racial differences in neonatal mortality. What causes of death explain the gap? American Journal of Diseases in Children, 142(4), 434–440.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blondel, B., & Zuber, M. C. (1988). Marital status and cohabitation during pregnancy: relationship with social conditions, antenatal care, and pregnancy outcome in France, 2(2), 125–137. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-3016.1988.tb00192.x/abstract

  • Breton, M. C., Beauchesne, M. F., Lemiere, C., Rey, E., Forget, A., & Blais, L. (2009). Risk of perinatal mortality associated with asthma during pregnancy. Thorax, 64, 101–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cedergren, M. I. (2004). Maternal morbid obesity and the risk of adverse pregnancy outcome. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 103(2), 219–224.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cerda, M., Buka, S., & Rich-Edwards, J. (2008). Neighborhood influences on the association between maternal age and birth weight: A multilevel investigation of age-related disparities in health. Social Science & Medicine, 66(9), 2048–2060.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cnattingius, S., Forman, M. R., Berendes, H. W., & Isotalo, L. (1992). Delayed childbearing and risk adverse perinatal outcome. Journal of the American Medical Association, 268(7), 886–890.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collins, D. R., & Williams, C. (1995). U.S. socioeconomic and racial differences in health: Patterns and explanations. Annual Review of Sociology, 21, 349–386.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collins, J. W., David, R. J., Handler, A., Wall, S., & Andes, S. (2004). Very low birth weight in African American infants: The role of maternal exposure to interpersonal racial discrimination. American Journal of Public Health, 94(12), 2132–2138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cossman, J. S., Cossman, R. E., James, W. L., Campbell, C. R., Blanchard, T. C., & Cosby, A. G. (2007). Persistent clusters of mortality in the United States. American Journal of Public Health, 97(12), 2148–2150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dollfus, C., Patetta, M., Siegel, E., & Cross, A. W. (1990). Infant mortality: A practical approach to the analysis of the leading causes of death and risk factors. Pediatrics, 86(2), 176–183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eberstein, I. W. (1989). Demographic research on infant mortality. Sociological Forum, 4(3), 409–422.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eberstein, I. W., & Parker, J. R. (1984). Racial differences in infant mortality by cause of death: The impact of birth weight and maternal age. Demography, 21(3), 409–422.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eberstein, I. W., Nam, C. B., & Hummer, R. A. (1990). Infant mortality by cause of death: Main and interaction effects. Demography, 27(3), 413–430.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eibner, C., & Sturm, R. (2006). US-based indices of area-level deprivation: Results from healthcare for communities. Social Science & Medicine, 62(2), 348–359.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fedrick, J., & Anderson, A. B. (1976). Factors associated with spontaneous pre-term birth. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 83(5), 342–350.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frisbie, W. P. (2005). Infant mortality. In D. Poston & M. Micklin (Eds.), Handbook of population (pp. 251–282). New York: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Frisbie, W. P., Biegler, M., de Turk, P., Forbes, D., & Pullum, S. G. (1997). Racial and ethnic differences in determinants of intrauterine growth retardation and other compromised birth outcomes. American Journal of Public Health 87(12), 1977–1983. http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.87.12.1977

  • Frisbie, W. P., Song, S. E., Powers, D. A., & Street, J. A. (2004). The increasing racial disparity in infant mortality: Respiratory distress syndrome and other causes. Demography, 41(4), 773–800.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frisbie, W. P., Hummer, R. A., Powers, D. A., Song, S. E., & Pullum, S. G. (2010). ­Race/ethnicity/nativity differentials and changes in cause-specific-infant deaths in the context of declining infant mortality in the U.S.: 1979–2001. Population Research and Policy Review, 29, 395–422.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geronimus, A. T. (1996). Black/white differences in the relationship of maternal age to birthweight: A population based test of the weathering hypothesis. Social Science & Medicine, 42(4), 589–597.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gershan, W. M., Besch, N. S., & Franciosi, R. A. (2002). A comparison of apparent life-­threatening events before and after the back to sleep campaign. Wisconsin Medical Journal, 101, 39–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbs, R. S. (2001). The relationship between infections and adverse pregnancy outcomes: An overview. Annals of Periodontology/The American Academy of Periodontology, 6(1), 153–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gibson, E., Dembofsky, C. A., Rubin, S., & Greenspan, J. S. (2000). Infant sleep position practices 2 years into the “back to sleep” campaign. Clinical Pediatrics, 39(5), 285–289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Golding, J., Robinson, J., Henriques, J., & Thomas, P. (1987). Does conception before marriage matter? British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 94(1), 38–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howell, E. M., Pettit, K. L. S., & Kingsley, G. T. (2005). Trends in maternal and infant health in poor urban neighborhoods: Good news from the 1990s, but challenges remain. Public Health Reports, 120(4), 409–417.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hummer, R. (2005). Income, race, and infant mortality: Comment on Stockwell et al. Population Research and Policy Review, 24(4), 405–409.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Institute of Medicine. (1985). Preventing low birth weight. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaminski, M., Goujard, J., & Rumeau-Rouquette, C. (1973). Prediction of low birthweight and prematurity by a multiple regression analysis with maternal characteristics known since the beginning of the pregnancy. International Journal of Epidemiology, 2(2), 195–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kleinman, J., & Kessel, S. (1987). Racial differences in low birth weight: Trends and risk factors. The New England Journal of Medicine, 317(12), 749–753.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kotelchuck, M. (1994). An evaluation of the Kessner adequacy of prenatal care index and a proposed adequacy of prenatal care index. American Journal of Public Health, 84(9), 1414–1420.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, L. M. (1990). Geographic proximity of maternal and perinatal medical services: Socio-­demographic determinants and infant mortality consequences. Master’s thesis, Department of Sociology, Florida State University, Tallahassee.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, J. A., & Park, M. M. (1999). Trends in twin and triplet births: 1980–97. National Vital Statistics Reports, 47(24), 1–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Massey, D. S., Gross, A. B., & Shibuya, K. (1994). Migration, segregation, and the geographic concentration of poverty. American Sociological Review, 59(3), 425–445.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mathews, T. J., & MacDorman, M. F. (2007). Infant mortality statistics from the 2004 period linked birth/infant death dataset. National Vital Statistics Reports, 55(14), 1–32, National Center for Health Statistics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayfield, J. A., Rosenblatt, R. A., Baldwin, L. M., Chu, J., & Logerfo, J. P. (1990). The relation of obstetrical volume and nursery level to perinatal mortality. American Journal of Public Health, 80(7), 819–823.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCormick, M. C., & Richardson, D. K. (1995). Access to neonatal intensive care. The Future of Children, 5, 162–175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCormick, M. C., Shapiro, S., & Starfield, B. H. (1985). The regionalization of perinatal services summary of the evaluation of a national demonstration program. Journal of the American Medical Association, 253(6), 799–804.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Messer, L., Laraia, B., Kaufman, J., Eyster, J., Holzman, C., Culhane, J., Elo, I., Burke, J., & O’Campo, P. (2006). The development of a standardized neighborhood deprivation index. Journal of Urban Health, 83(6), 1041–1062.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, M. B., Jonas, B. S., & Tonascia, J. A. (1976). Perinatal events associated with maternal smoking during pregnancy. Journal of the American Medical Association, 103(5), 464–476.

    Google Scholar 

  • Misra, D. P., O’Campo, P., & Strobino, D. (2001). Testing a sociomedical model for preterm delivery. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 15(2), 110–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moos, M. K., & Cefalo, R. C. (1987). Pre-conceptional health promotion: A focus for obstetric care. American Journal of Perinatology, 4(1), 63–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Foundation of the March of Dimes Committee on Perinatal Health. (1976). Toward improving the outcome of pregnancy: Recommendations for the regional development of maternal and perinatal health services. White Plains: National Foundation-March of Dimes.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nesbit, T., Connell, F., Hart, L., & Rosenblatt, R. (1990). Access to obstetric care in rural areas: Effect on birth outcomes. American Journal of Public Health, 80, 814–818.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Papiernik, E., Alexander, G. R., & Paneth, N. (1990). Racial differences in pregnancy duration and its implications for perinatal care. Medical Hypotheses, 33(3), 181–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peacock, J., Bland, J. M., & Anderson, H. R. (1995). Preterm delivery: Effects of socioeconomic factors, psychological stress, smoking, alcohol, and caffeine. British Medical Journal, 311(7004), 531–535.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pollack, H. A., & Frohna, J. G. (2002). Infant sleep placement after the back to sleep campaign. Pediatrics, 109(4), 608–614.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Powers, D. A., & Song, S. E. (2009). Absolute change in cause-specific infant mortality for blacks and whites in the U.S.: 1983–2002. Population Research and Policy Review, 28, 817–851.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reichman, N. E., Hamilton, E. R., Hummer, R. A., & Padilla, Y. C. (2008). Racial and ethnic disparities in low birthweight among urban unmarried mothers. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 12, 204–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schieve, L. A., Meikle, S. F., Ferre, C., Peterson, H. B., Jeng, G., & Wilcox, L. S. (2002). Low and very low birth weight in infants conceived with use of assisted reproductive technology. The New England Journal of Medicine, 346(10), 731–737.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sebire, N. J., Jolly, M., Harris, J. P., Wadsworth, J., Joffe, M., Beard, E. W., Regan, L., & Robinson, S. (2001). Maternal obesity and pregnancy outcome: A study of 287213 pregnancies in London. International Journal of Obesity, 25(8), 1175–1182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seidman, D. S., Samueloff, A., Mor-Yosef, S., & Schenker, J. G. (1990). The effect of maternal age and socioeconomical background on neonatal outcome. International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, 33(1), 7–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shiono, P. H., Klebanoff, M. A., Graubard, B. I., Berendes, H. W., & Rhoads, G. G. (1986). Birth weight among women of different ethnic groups. Journal of the American Medical Association, 255(1), 48–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, G. K., & Kogan, M. D. (2007). Persistent socioeconomic disparities in infant, neonatal, and post-neonatal mortality rates in the United States, 1969–2001. Pediatrics, 119(4), E928–E939.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, G. K., & Yu, S. M. (1995). Infant mortality in the United States: Trends, differentials, and projections, 1950–2010. American Journal of Public Health, 85(7), 957–964.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sowards, K. A. (1997). Premature birth and the changing composition of newborn infectious disease mortality: Reconsidering “exogenous” mortality. Demography, 34(3), 399–409.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stockwell, E. G., Goza, F. W., & Balistreri, K. S. (2005). Infant mortality and socioeconomic status: New bottle, same old wine. Population Research and Policy Review, 24, 387–399.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stoll, B. J., Holmann, R. C., & Schuchat, A. (1998). Decline in sepsis-associated neonatal and infant deaths in the United States, 1979 through 1994. Pediatrics, 102(2), e18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Subramanian, S., Chen, J., Rehkopf, D., Waterman, P., & Krieger, N. (2005). Racial disparities in context: A multilevel analysis of neighborhood variations in poverty and excess mortality among black populations in Massachusetts. American Journal of Public Health, 95(2), 260–265.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wen, S. W., Goldenberg, R. L., Cutter, G. R., Hoffman, H. J., & Cliver, S. P. (1990). Intrauterine growth retardation and preterm delivery: Prenatal risk factors in an indigent population. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 162(1), 213–218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, D. R., & Collins, C. (1995). U.S. socioeconomic and racial differences in health: Patterns and explanations. Annual Review of Sociology, 21, 349–386.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, D. R., & Collins, C. (2001). Racial residential segregation: A fundamental cause of racial disparities in health. Public Health Reports, 116, 404–416.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, W. (1987). The truly disadvantaged: The inner city, the underclass and public policy. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, Center for Demography and Population Health, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-2240, USA

    Jessica C. Bishop-Royse & Isaac W. Eberstein

Authors
  1. Jessica C. Bishop-Royse
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Isaac W. Eberstein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jessica C. Bishop-Royse .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Dept of Demography, University of Texas, San Antonio, West Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard 501, San Antonio, 78207, Texas, USA

    Nazrul Hoque

  2. , Arkansas Department of Health, Health Statistics Branch, West Markham Street, Slot 19 4815, Little Rock, 72205-3867, Arkansas, USA

    Mary A. McGehee

  3. , School of Public Health, The University of Texas, John Smith Drive, Suite 200 7411, San Antonio, 78229, Texas, USA

    Benjamin S. Bradshaw

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Bishop-Royse, J.C., Eberstein, I.W. (2013). Individual- and County-Level Factors Associated with Racial Disparities in Cause-Specific Infant Mortality: Florida 1980–2000. In: Hoque, N., McGehee, M., Bradshaw, B. (eds) Applied Demography and Public Health. Applied Demography Series, vol 3. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6140-7_7

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation