Infant Mortality and Race in Kansas Associations With Women, Infants, and Children Services

Background: Racial and ethnic minority infants and mothers have worse birth outcomes than Caucasian infants and mothers, specifically infant mortality. The purpose of this pilot study was to compare infant mortality rates from vital statistic data between mothers who participated in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program and the general population in Kansas. Methods: A retrospective secondary analysis of data received from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) was conducted. Data were provided on all mothers who delivered a child in the state of Kansas from 2009 to 2011. The data received from KDHE included maternal demographics, infant deaths, infant gestational age, infant weight at birth, and WIC program participation. Results: The overall infant mortality rate was 6.4 per 1000 births. Infant mortality for Caucasians was lower than for non-Caucasians. Infant mortality for blacks was greater than for non-blacks. Being Hispanic was not statistically associated with a difference i...