Black infants in the United States continue to suffer significantly higher mortality rates compared to their white counterparts, a recent study reveals. Despite advancements in medical care and public health initiatives, the mortality gap has widened over the past seven decades. The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, documents over half a million avoidable infant deaths among Black Americans between 1950 and 2019.
Researchers from Harvard, Yale, and other institutions found that while overall mortality rates have improved for both Black and white Americans, Black infants still face disproportionately high risks. In the 1950s, Black infants died at a rate of 5,181 per 100,000 compared to 2,703 per 100,000 among white infants. By the 2010s, the rate had declined to 1,073 per 100,000 for Black infants and 499 per 100,000 for white infants, yet the disparity grew to a mortality ratio of 2.15.
The study attributes these persistent disparities to systemic racism and structural inequities, including housing segregation, unequal access to healthcare, and socioeconomic disadvantages. Factors such as perinatal conditions, homicides, and accidents contribute to the excess deaths among Black children.
The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to address these inequities and improve health outcomes for minority communities. Efforts to diversify the healthcare workforce and enhance cultural competence among medical professionals are crucial steps toward reducing these disparities.
See: “Black Infant Mortality Rates” (April 21, 2025)