Black:white inequities in infant mortality across the 69 most populous US cities, 2018–2021

TL;DR

This study finds significant racial disparities in infant mortality rates between Black and white populations across 69 major US cities, linked to structural racism and socioeconomic factors.

Contribution

The study quantifies Black:white infant mortality inequities and links them to structural racism indicators at the city level.

Findings

Black infant mortality rates were 2.5 times higher than white rates nationally and significantly higher in all 48 cities analyzed.

The Black:white mortality rate ratio exceeded 4.0 in 10 cities, with the highest ratio at 5.0 in Cincinnati, OH.

Racial inequities were associated with economic status, while overall mortality rates were linked to education, incarceration, and segregation.

Abstract

The United States has poor birth outcomes, including high rates of infant mortality and substantial racial inequities, compared to other developed nations. However, both overall mortality rates and racial inequities in rates vary across locations, emphasizing the structural forces that shape population health. We used mortality and natality data from the National Vital Statistics System to assess racial inequities in infant mortality rates within the most populous US cities for 2018–2021. Specifically, we: (1) calculate overall and race-specific infant mortality rates for 69 cities and racial inequities in infant mortality for 48 cities; and, (2) analyze associations between these inequities and city-level measures of structural racism. City-level infant mortality rates ranged from 1.96 deaths per 1,000 births in Irvine, CA to 13.92 in Detroit, MI. The non-Hispanic Black infant mortality rate was 2.5 times higher than the non-Hispanic white rate in the US and the Black:white rate ratio was statistically significant in all study cities, ranging from 1.8 (Omaha, NE) to 5.0 (Cincinnati, OH). The Black:white rate ratio was greater than 4.0 in 10 cities. Overall and race-specific infant mortality rates were associated with measures of education, economic status, incarceration, segregation, and diversity. Racial inequities in infant mortality were associated with measures of economic status. Understanding infant mortality inequities at the city level is critical to support the efforts of urban health advocates. Moreover, examining the persistent associations of structural racism with infant mortality will help guide necessary programmatic or policy decisions to reduce infant mortality in US cities.

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