GIM Assistant Professor of Medicine, Keisha Bentley_Edwatds, PhD, was recently interviewed by CBS News about a co-released report from the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke University and the Insight Center for Community Economic Development. The report provides an overview of the social determinants that contribute to racial disparities in the infant mortality rate (IMR), entitled Fighting at Birth: Eradicating the Black-White Infant Mortality Gap. Watch the full interview from CBS News below.
[video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsFgHO7_zeg]
The report proposes policies and programs that prioritize healthy maternal and child outcomes for black women because of their greater susceptibility to racism and discrimination to eliminate the gap. The authors stated that not only does the black-white disparity for infant mortality exist at all educational levels, it is greatest for black mothers who earn a master's degree or higher. Further, the IMR is highest for black women with a doctorate or professional degree.
“Particularly for black women, despite age, educational attainment and socioeconomic status, the exposure to racial inequities and injustices throughout their life directly impact their birth outcome.”
- Keisha Bentley-Edwards, PhD
For more details, click here to download a PDF of the full research report.