Infant Mortality Down in Michigan Though Racial Disparities Continue
(MDHHS, April 10, 2016)
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) today announced the recent release of the 2016-2019 Michigan Infant Mortality Reduction Plan. The Plan provides a roadmap for Michigan to continue improvements in ensuring infants thrive through their first year of life.
“Creating an environment for healthy babies – an environment in which more babies thrive and celebrate their first birthday – is a goal of public health here in Michigan and across the country,” said Susan Moran, Deputy Director of the Population Health and Community Services Administration within MDHHS. “The Michigan Infant Mortality Reduction Plan provides important guidance for policy and health leaders in the state to ensure we keep Michigan moving in the right direction.”
The 2016-2019 Michigan Infant Mortality Reduction Plan not only includes goals but also outlines the efforts and progress made during the 2012-2015 Infant Mortality Reduction Plan.  This updated guidance was developed under the leadership of MDHHS, and was worked on collaboratively with many state representatives of health care, hospitals, local health departments, universities, professional organizations and associations, as well as business and community leaders.
According to the 2014 estimate, the state rate is currently down to 6.75 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, nearing the Healthy People 2020 goal of six infant deaths per 1,000 live births. However, numbers indicate persistent and troubling racial disparities. In 2013, five out of every 1,000 Caucasian babies and 10 out of every 1,000 Hispanic babies died before their first birthday. Among African American population that rate is 13 out of every 1,000 babies born died before reaching the age of one.
Building on the eight goals of the 2012-2015 Infant Mortality Reduction Plan, the 2016-2019 state plan outlines nine goals aimed at ensuring more Michigan babies survive and thrive through their first year of life.  The new plan continues and strengthens efforts to address the social, emotional and environmental factors that affect health and health equity.
For more information about the efforts to reduce infant mortality in Michigan, or to read the 2016-2019 Michigan Infant Mortality Reduction Plan visit www.michigan.gov/infantmortality.