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Healthy Birth Outcomes:
Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities

Elimination of health disparities constitutes an overarching goal of the state health plan, Healthiest Wisconsin 2010.  Perhaps the most disturbing health disparity in Wisconsin is the persistent high death rate of infants born to African American women.  Infants born to African American women in Wisconsin have been 3-4 times more likely to die before their first birthday than infants born to white women.  Further, during the past 20 years, virtually no decline has occurred in Wisconsin’s African American infant mortality rate. Compared to white infant mortality, disparities also exist among American Indian, Laotion/Hmong and Hispanic populations, although these disparities are smaller than those of African Americans.

Spotlight

Save the Date: Healthy Babies Summit and AWHONN State Conference--October 15 and 16, 2009 (PDF, 336 KB)

ABCs for Healthy Babies:  A Social Marketing Campaign for Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Birth Outcomes in Southeastern and Southern Wisconsin. Final Report on Concept and Message Testing in Milwaukee, Beloit, Racine, Kenosha, and Madison/Dane County. (PDF, 3062 KB) (March 2009)

Slide presentation on ABCs for Healthy Families: social marketing campaign and updated data for 2007 (PDF, 1879 KB)

MCH Alert: Focus on Infant Mortality is developed by the Maternal and Child Health Library in collaboration with the National Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death and Pregnancy Loss Resource Center. Current and past issues (exit DHS) are available online.

A Framework for Action to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Birth Outcomes (PDF, 229 KB) (Updated July 2008)

Statewide Advisory Committee Meeting Materials, November 7, 2008

Medicaid Contact for Eligibility and Access Issues in Southeastern Wisconsin:
     Audra Brennan
     SE Wisconsin Medicaid liaison
     414-227-4317
     audrad.brennan@wi.gov

Impact of Prenatal Care Coordination on Birth Outcomes in Wisconsin (Slides, PDF,162 KB)

Elimination of Racial and Ethnic Disparities on Birth Outcomes in Wisconsin, a February 8, 2008 white paper by Richard Allan Aronson, MD, MPH (exit DHS)

Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick? Web site for the Public Broadcasting System series, including the video "When the Bough Breaks" (exit DHS)

This site will be updated as this initiative progresses.  Check back often for information for health care providers, researchers and the public on how to achieve healthy births for all Wisconsin families.

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Last Revised:  June 30, 2009