Two zip codes on San Antonio's East side have higher rates of death for babies before the age of one, according to the University of Texas System.
Using data from 2011 to 2014, the study's interactive map shows that among Hispanics, 78203 has an infant mortality rate of 16.02 per 1,000 births, while neighboring 78220 has a rate of 11.63 per 1,000 births.
Although Texas' infant mortality rate is lower than the national average, these two San Antonio zip codes are at least twice the state average of 5.8 deaths per 1,000 births.
Infant mortality is a common indicator for public health analysis and can be used to gauge disparities and target issues within communities. The UT System study also examined various ethnicities, including mothers of black and white heritage.
Is prenatal care enough to save the lives of babies and keep mothers healthy? How does economic segregation factor into this phenomenon?
What's being done to reduce the number of infant deaths in San Antonio?
Guests:
- Kori Eberle, health manager for the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District's Healthy Start program
- Dr. Sanjie Garza-Cox, MEDNAX-affiliated neonatologist at the Children's Hospital of San Antonio
- Dr. Eileen Nehme, member of the UT System Population Health team and researcher for the report “Infant Mortality in Communities Across Texas”
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