The graph below presents the 2008 infant mortality rates of African American, Caucasian and Illinois' entire population. The rate among African Americans, while the second lowest on record, is at an unacceptably high level of 13.9 per 1,000 live births.
|
IL |
White |
Black |
| 1980 |
14.7 |
12.1 |
26.3 |
| 1981 |
13.9 |
11.6 |
24.5 |
| 1982 |
13.6 |
11.4 |
24.6 |
| 1983 |
12.3 |
10.0 |
23.2 |
| 1984 |
12.0 |
9.7 |
22.1 |
| 1985 |
11.6 |
9.4 |
21.4 |
| 1986 |
12.0 |
9.6 |
22.3 |
| 1987 |
11.6 |
9.6 |
20.7 |
| 1988 |
11.2 |
9.1 |
20.9 |
| 1989 |
11.7 |
8.7 |
22.0 |
| 1990 |
10.7 |
7.4 |
22.1 |
| 1991 |
10.7 |
7.7 |
21.1 |
| 1992 |
10.0 |
7.4 |
19.5 |
| 1993 |
9.6 |
7.2 |
18.8 |
| 1994 |
9.0 |
6.7 |
17.9 |
| 1995 |
9.3 |
7.4 |
18.2 |
| 1996 |
8.4 |
6.3 |
17.5 |
| 1997 |
8.2 |
6.1 |
16.5 |
| 1998 |
8.2 |
6.3 |
16.8 |
| 1999 |
8.3 |
6.0 |
17.3 |
| 2000 |
8.3 |
6.2 |
16.3 |
| 2001 |
7.5 |
6.1 |
14.7 |
| 2002 |
7.2 |
5.4 |
15.6 |
| 2003 |
7.6 |
6.1 |
15.6 |
| 2004 |
7.3 |
5.8 |
15.1 |
| 2005 |
7.2 |
5.8 |
15.1 |
| 2006 |
7.4 |
5.9 |
14.3 |
| 2007 |
6.6 |
5.2 |
13.4 |
| 2008 |
7.2 |
5.8 |
13.9 |
Table 6 presents the ratio of African American to Caucasian infant mortality rates. While the state has made steady progress in the reduction of infant mortality, the racial disparity between African American and Caucasian infants has not appreciably improved. The benefits of technological advances and perinatal care for mothers and infants continue to be realized as seen by reductions in mortality for both white and black infants.
Racial disparity in health status is one of the top priorities of the Division of Family and Community Services. The Department will continue to work with partners at the federal, state and community level to identify, develop and implement new strategies to address this pressing health problem.
Table 6: Ratio of African American and Caucasian Infant Mortality in Illinois: 1981 - 2008
| YEAR |
RATIO |
| 1981 |
2.1 : 1 |
| 1982 |
2.2 : 1 |
| 1983 |
2.3 : 1 |
| 1984 |
2.3 : 1 |
| 1985 |
2.3 : 1 |
| 1986 |
2.3 : 1 |
| 1987 |
2.2 : 1 |
| 1988 |
2.3 : 1 |
| 1989 |
2.5 : 1 |
| 1990 |
2.9 : 1 |
| 1991 |
2.7 : 1 |
| 1992 |
2.6 : 1 |
| 1993 |
2.7 : 1 |
| 1994 |
2.7 : 1 |
| 1995 |
2.5 : 1 |
| 1996 |
2.8 : 1 |
| 1997 |
2.7 : 1 |
| 1998 |
2.7 : 1 |
| 1999 |
2.8 : 1 |
| 2000 |
2.5 : 1 |
| 2001 |
2.5 : 1 |
| 2002 |
2.8 : 1 |
| 2003 |
2.6 : 1 |
| 2004 |
2.5 : 1 |
| 2005 |
2.7 : 1 |
| 2006 |
2.4 : 1 |
| 2007 |
2.6 : 1 |
| 2008 |
2.4 : 1 |
