HPIO releases action guide on policies to eliminate racism and reduce infant mortality

The Health Policy Institute of Ohio has released an action guide that highlights policy options for addressing racism, one of the social drivers of infant mortality in Ohio. 

Earlier this year, HPIO produced the Social Drivers of Infant Mortality: Recommendations for Action and Accountability in Ohio report as an update to the 2017 A New Approach to Reduce Infant Mortality and Achieve Equity report.

This action guide takes a closer look at the recommendations related to racism in the Action and Accountability report and provides state and local health stakeholders with additional information and tools to support next steps. The guide, and additional tools posted on the HPIO website, can be used to prioritize, advocate for and implement the recommendations.
 
Everyone deserves to live a long, healthy and fulfilling life. However, Black infants in Ohio are over 2.5 times more likely to die before their first birthday compared to white infants, as illustrated in the graphic above.
 
“Racism (including internalized, interpersonal, institutional and structural racism) is at the root of racial health disparities, such as the racial differences in infant mortality rates,” according to the guide.

HPIO recently released similar action guides on housing, education, transportation and employment.

Support for this project was provided by the Bruening Foundation and HPIO’s other core funders.