Healthy Birth Outcomes - Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities

Elimination of health disparities constitutes an overarching goal of the state health plans, Healthiest Wisconsin 2010 and Healthiest Wisconsin 2020. 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 and Hmong, and Hispanic/Latino populations, although these disparities are smaller than those of African Americans.

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.