Forum on black infant mortality brings call to action

August 12, 2016 at 12:09a.m.

Youngstown

Community leaders gathered at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church for a dialogue on racism that focused on reducing black infant mortality, which occurs at a rate more than double the rate for whites in Mahoning County.

The leaders, however, didn’t limit themselves to listening to speeches about that topic.

In addition to signing in with contact information, the 65 attendees at the Thursday forum were asked to sign an individual action pledge indicating their areas of interest and expertise and willingness to volunteer, to be trained, to join a problem-solving organization or to perform independent research.

“We want them to be part of an action to do something about this problem of black infant mortality, and, even greater, the issue of racism within our community,” said Penny Wells, a dialogue organizing committee member.

“We’re not just about talking; we’re about doing,” she added.

“One of the tragedies, really, of our society is that the youngest and the most vulnerable of all in our society – the little babies – are the ones that suffer the most,” the Rev. Edward Weisheimer, dialogue co-chairman, told the audience.

The audience included Mayor John A. McNally, Police Chief Robin Lees, clergy, city and county health officials and health care and social-services providers.

The event was sponsored by the Mahoning Valley Association of Churches; Enabling Racial Reconciliation in Greater Youngstown; the city health department; the YWCA of Youngstown; ACTION, the outreach organization of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown; and Everyday Democracy, a national facilitator of community problem-solving.

In 2015, Mahoning County’s black infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births in the first year of life was 19; the figure for whites was 7, said Leigh Greene, minority health director at the city health department.

It’s unclear why black infant mortality is more than double that of whites locally and statewide, she said.

She said a possible indicator for the high rate among blacks, however, is the high level of cortisol, a stress-managing “fight-or-flight hormone” among black women.

Poverty and stress caused by high crime rates are infant mortality risk indicators, she added.

Ohio’s three leading causes of infant death are premature births, sleep-related deaths and birth defects, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

Among the local dialogue’s action goals are improved public education about nutrition and safe infant sleep environments, improved local availability of healthy foods and re-establishment of well-baby clinics.

“We can do all the health things that we can, the screening we can, but to get out in the communities and talk to each other – that’s where we depend on Youngstown” residents, said Erin Bishop, city health commissioner.

Those interested in participating may call Wells at 330-207-4467.