Black Infant Mortality Crisis in Pennsylvania: Why It’s Happening and How Communities are Taking Action
Black infant mortality has reached crisis levels in parts of Pennsylvania, with especially stark disparities in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh). Black babies are dying before their first birthday at much higher rates than white babies – a tragic gap that points to deeper systemic issues. This post takes a journalistic look at the scope of the problem, why it’s happening (from structural racism to healthcare access gaps), and what local advocates are doing about it. We also introduce the latest Her Health Matters radio episode, which dives deeper into solutions with expert guests.
A Crisis by the Numbers: Black Infant Mortality Disparities
The statistics on Black infant mortality in Pennsylvania are sobering and urgent. In Allegheny County, Black infants die at a dramatically higher rate than white infants. A 2019 city report by Pittsburgh’s Gender Equity Commission found Black babies in Pittsburgh were more than six times as likely to die in their first year as white babies.
Statewide, the infant mortality rate for Black babies is more than double that of white babies. Nationally, Black infants died at a rate of 10.9 per 1,000 births according to CDC/NCHS 2023 provisional data.
Why Are Black Babies at Risk? Structural Causes Behind the Crisis
Public health experts stress that these disparities are not because of inherent differences in Black mothers or babies, but rather due to systemic inequities. Race itself isn’t the cause – racism is.
Generations of structural racism have created conditions that put Black infants at higher risk. For example, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health Minority Health Report, only 58.7% of Black pregnant women in Pennsylvania received early and adequate prenatal care compared to about 80% of white women.
Other risk factors include exposure to chronic stress, environmental hazards, and implicit bias within healthcare systems.
Community Responses: How Pennsylvania Is Fighting for Change
Despite the grim statistics, there are powerful efforts underway in Pennsylvania to save Black mothers and babies.
One promising example in Allegheny County is First Steps & Beyond, a collaborative initiative devoted to reducing Black infant mortality, led by Takiyah Durham. First Steps & Beyond focuses on reducing preterm births, promoting safe sleep practices, and providing postpartum support — all while addressing systemic racism in healthcare.
Another crucial front is policy change to improve healthcare access. The Pennsylvania Health Access Network (PHAN), represented on the radio show by Joanna Rosenhein, has been advocating for expanded insurance coverage, such as the extension of Medicaid postpartum benefits from 2 to 12 months. This policy change was highlighted by the PA Health Law Project, aiming to reduce racial disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes.
Her Health Matters – Diving Deeper into Solutions and Stories
To truly understand this crisis and how to solve it, listen to the latest episode of Her Health Matters.
This episode features Takiyah Durham from First Steps & Beyond and Joanna Rosenhein from the Pennsylvania Health Access Network, discussing community-driven solutions, health policy improvements, and actions listeners can take to help close the gap.
Be a Part of the Solution: Listen, Share, and Take Action
Tackling Black infant mortality will require all of us. Here’s how you can help:
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Listen to the Her Health Matters episode.
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Share this information to raise awareness.
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Support organizations like First Steps & Beyond and Pennsylvania Health Access Network.
Together, we can ensure that every baby in Pennsylvania has a healthy start and a bright future.