State of Black Family Maternal and Child Health and Focus Group Results Carolyn M. Springer, Ph.D. Research funded by the MCH Bureau, HRSA Grant #: G97MC04454 Grantee: Todays Child Communications

Research Team Carolyn M. Springer, Ph.D. Michelle H. Pigott, MA Vaschele Williams, MA Cristina Boquin Kari Lundwall, MA Lauren Springer, JD

Black Americans 36 million; 13 % of US population The poorest health status of any American demographic Race and Ethnicity as major determinants of health Poverty Increased morbidity Increased mortality Inadequate health insurance Limited access to health care

Maternal and Child Health IMR 2004:13.6 for Blacks; 5.7 for Whites Black infants are twice as likely to die in infancy to be born pre-term to be low birth weight Black women More than 2x likely to receive late or no pre-natal care 3 to 4x as likely to die from pregnancy and related complications

Life Expectancy at Birth

Infant Mortality Rate by Mothers Race

Low-birth weight by Race

Insurance Rates of insurance have risen for Black children (9% in 2003; down from 14% in 1998) but still below rates for white children (6% in 2003)

National Black Family Promotions Coalition: Partners to Promote Maternal and Child Health Initiative 5 year project ( ) Supported by funding from HRSAs MCH Bureau; part of the Alliance for Information on Maternal and Child Health Address racial disparities in maternal child health through education, advocacy, social marketing and program and policy development.

Focus Groups Provide a forum for participants to have a dialogue about Black families and health Topics: Value placed on health; health disparities; health care treatment; health behaviors; heath barriers and facilitators; health literacy; pre-natal care 3 regions (Washington DC; Chicago, IL; New York City Tristate Area)

Focus Groups 3 groups in each city Coed Male Only Pregnant Women About people in each group Participant Criteria: Black, African-American, Caribbean or African Over 18 years, Currently pregnant or moms and dads with children under 5 years Sample Six groups in Washington D.C. and Chicago, Illinois 67 participants (37 women, 30 men)

Major Themes Access to health care services Quality of services Issues related to health insurance Issues related to health disparities Misconceptions about medications Relationships with health care providers Images of African-American fathers Competing demands which make it difficult for health to be a priority.