Racism, poverty among factors that contribute to Michigan’s dreadful infant mortality rate – By Joe Guillen (Detroit Free Press) / March 1 2020
As Detroit and the rest of Michigan continue to struggle with troubling infant mortality rates, a new report urges leaders to tackle systemic issues like racism and poverty while extending postpartum Medicaid coverage.
The report — released late last week by the Michigan League for Public Policy — also recommends expanding home visiting programs and restoring tax credits for low to moderate income earners to improve the health of mothers and their babies.
“I don’t think we can look at rates of mortality or morbidity and say that we’re doing any of this in an excellent way,” Amber Bellazaire, the report’s author, said in an interview. “This is, in part, a call to action.”
Michigan ranks 36th in the country in infant mortality, according to the report, “Strong Moms for Thriving Babies: Right Start 2020.” Detroit had the state’s highest infant mortality rate in 2018, at more than 16 deaths per 1,000 births, according to the state’s most recent statistics. The city’s preterm birth rate also is at a 13-year high.
Continue to article: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2020/03/01/report-makes-recommendations-address-michigan-infant-mortality-rate/4902170002/
