Today’s Boston Globe reports new Massachusetts data on infant mortality. “In 2003, the year covered in the report presented by the state Department of Public Health, 4.1 of every 1,000 white, non-Hispanic infants born in Massachusetts died before reaching their first birthday compared with 12.7 of every 1,000 black, non-Hispanic infants. The comparable figure for Hispanic infants was 5.6, and for Asian babies 2.7.” Check out the full story by clicking here. Since mid-1990s, with fits and starts, African American infant mortality has been trending in the wrong direction. Perhaps tied with life expectancy, there is no more important measure of a society’s health than infant mortality.

This is one reason why the Special Legislation Commission on Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities’ work is so important. The Commission, which began work late last year, will release a report this coming November providing details on the state of our state’s health disparities. For info on the Commission, click here.