Team Profile Summary

Wayne County will focus its efforts on addressing SDOH such as Self-esteem/Self- determination, Social Isolation, Social Perception of Women, and Racism as a novel approach to improving preconception and inter-conception health and hence pregnancy outcomes in order to achieve the ultimate goal of reducing Infant Mortality and the disparity in Infant Mortality.

Team Profile Details

Problem Statement

High Infant Mortality and Disparity in Infant Mortality in Wayne County, Michigan currently ranks among the worst five states with regard to racial and ethnic disparities in Infant Mortality Rates (IMR). In Wayne County Infant Mortality is more than twice as prevalent in African-American population as compared to whites (16/1,000 13.7/1000 of live births versus 5.6/1000live births respectively as of 2006). While this disparity is largely due to higher low birth weights in the African-Americans as compared to Caucasians (12.1%versus 6.7% of live births) the Wayne County Infant Mortality Team (TEAM) recognizes that Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) impact pregnancy outcomes and for a significant and sustained reduction in Infant Mortality these SDOH will need to be addressed.

Team Objectives and Actions

• Distribution of White Paper to Stakeholders informing them of the problem. Have a committed group of Stakeholders that champion and/or implement strategies that increase self assurance and self reliance in women.
• Increased Community Dialogue on valuing womanhood and the value of improved preconception and inter conception health.
• Institutionalization of policies that value womanhood

Design Team Partners: (in alphabetical order)

• Children’s Hospital of Michigan
• Detroit Health and Wellness Promotion Department
• Head Start-Wayne County
• Hutzel Women’s Hospital
• Michigan Chronicle
• Michigan Department of Community Health
• Oakwood Hospital
• Michigan Public Health Institute-Child Death Review
• School of Public Health Practice-University of Michigan
• Senate District 2
• St. John Hospital
• Tomorrow’s Child
• Wayne County Department of Public Health
• Wayne County Health and Human Services

For more information and to become involved, please contact:

Team Lead: Talat Danish MD MPH
Email: tdanish@co.wayne.mi.us
Phone: 734-727-7010