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While investigators are looking for answers on why dozens of fetuses are hidden in cartons at two funeral homes in Detroit, the high rate of infant mortality in the city could give clues.
The infant mortality rate recorded for the city of Detroit is about 12.7 per 1,000 live births in 2016, according to the latest data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. That's more than double the national rate of 5.9 per 1,000 live births.
In Wayne County, the Department of Health reported an infant mortality rate of 8.6 per 1,000 live births in 2016. That year, 120 children died in Detroit and 200 in Wayne County said Lynn Sutfin, spokesman for the government agency.
And while Michigan shows a steady improvement in public health, disparities in race-based results persist.
More: Couple sue Detroit Funeral Home for missing baby remains after 63 fetuses found in boxes and freezers
More: Police: remains of fetuses have been found in another funeral home
Angie Winton, The president of Metro Detroit Share, a support group for families who have experienced the death of a child, said she'd often talked to women from Detroit who wanted to attend support meetings but did not have any means of transportation.
"The unfortunate part with the very low income areas, they lack resources to go anywhere," she said. "It's a huge problem."
The group has previously worked with Perry Funeral Home and Cantrell Funeral Home and has helped families pay for funeral arrangements. Winton added that they were often contacted directly by hospitals or families, but that funeral homes could have contacted clients if their clients needed financial support.
According to the public health agency, the infant mortality rate among blacks is still higher than the rate of infant mortality among whites – "a persistent racial disparity of about 2.8 black deaths for every death on white", said Health and Human Services. "In 2016, the white infant mortality rate was 4.8 per 1,000 live births, while the black rate was 13.3 per 1,000 live births."
In 2016, the infant mortality rate among Native Americans in Michigan increased from 11 deaths per 1,000 to 14 deaths per 1,000 births, exceeding the infant mortality rate for the first time in two decades.
According to Health and Human Services, other factors include:
Age: Mothers aged 30 to 39 had the lowest infant mortality rates, while mothers under 20 had the highest rates.
Civil status: The infant mortality rate among unmarried women was about twice that of married mothers.
Secondhand smoke: Mothers exposed to second-hand smoke had an infant mortality rate of 8.7 per 1,000 live births – this rate was 5.5 for mothers who were not exposed to second-hand smoke.
According to a spokeswoman for the Detroit Department of Health, premature births and low birth weight are the two main factors that have led to high infant mortality rates in the city.
Winton said she had had two losses, one child very early and another that she had had 37 months and a half of pregnancy.
"I had the baby shower, the nursery was done … and then she stopped moving." she says. "I did not think it could happen to me.
"Unless you have experienced a loss, you do not understand the total shock, hopelessness and mental anguish you are experiencing."
Working in grief support, Winton said that she had met women who often said that they did not feel listened to or felt fired when they complained to their doctor.
"I think women sometimes know their bodies better than doctors," she said. "Just hearing so many stories from moms who said:" I was really worried, but they told me that it was fine … and later, it was too late."
Winton said she often told women that they should be their own advocates, require good care and work with a doctor who takes into account their concerns and feelings.
Copyright 2017 USATODAY.com
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