An Evaluation of Community-Based Educational Programming for Prevention of Infant Mortality Among African Americans

Introduction: Infant mortality (IM) remains a critical issue in the United States with disproportionately high rates among African American (AA) infants. IM is the death of an infant before his or her first birthday. Infant mortality rate (IMR) is regarded as an indicator of overall population health. AA infants are more likely to be born with low birth weight or preterm. AA women are less likely to receive prenatal care during the first trimester and less likely to breast feed. Methods: In this study, conducted in Indiana county with a high (IMR), we implanted a community-based educational program centered on the life course perspective model. The program provided educational information aimed at addressing health-promoting behaviors in the community. Four education modules covering breastfeeding, nutrition, safe sleep, and smoking cessation were delivered to AA community members over a 32-week period in 2021-2022. Results: Pre- and post-test evaluations revealed a significant increase in knowledge on breastfeeding, nutrition, safe sleep, and smoking cessation among participants, affirming the program's effectiveness. Discussion: Future programming efforts should expand the program's reach, address care barriers, and explore long-term behavior changes. Community-based education is crucial for reducing racial disparities in IM and improving AA infant health outcomes.