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Podcasts Take Two
Why do black infants die so much more often than white infants?
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Mar 3, 2014
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Why do black infants die so much more often than white infants?
The vast majority of babies born in the U.S., to women of all ethnicities, are born healthy.
Kenisha Norwood, left, and her 3-year-old son Xavier attend a social support and empowerment class for pregnant mothers put on by Great Beginnings for Black Babies at Freeman Medical Arts Building on Monday, Feb. 23.
Kenisha Norwood, left, and her 3-year-old son Xavier attend a social support and empowerment class for pregnant mothers put on by Great Beginnings for Black Babies at Freeman Medical Arts Building on Monday, Feb. 23.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)

The vast majority of babies born in the U.S., to women of all ethnicities, are born healthy.

The vast majority of babies born in the U.S.,  to women of all ethnicities, are born healthy.

But, race is still the strongest predictor of whether an infant will die within his or her first year.

Nationwide—and in Los Angeles County—black babies are far more likely to die soon after birth than white ones.

KPCC's Adrian Florido finds out the reasons are more complicated than you might expect.