Racial differences in the relationship between infant mortality and socioeconomic status.

This paper presents an ecological analysis of the relationship between infant mortality and economic status by race in metropolitan Ohio, using census data on mother's residence, and economic status determined by the percentage of low income families living in each area. White-non-white comparisons for total infant mortality are examined for the US censuses of 1960, 1970, 1980 and 1990; and more detailed period- and broad cause-specific rates are presented for 1990. A pronounced inverse association is found between income status and infant mortality for whites, but not for non-whites. Non-white post-neonatal death rates were higher for the lowest income area, but for neonatal mortality, total infant deaths, and exogenous and endogenous cause-specific death rates, there was no discernible socioeconomic differential. It is concluded that low income whites and non-whites at all income levels have infant mortality rates that are substantially higher than the overall rate for the population. Policy implications are discussed.