HSC Healthy Start program addresses health disparities in infant mortality rates

Taking better care of Texas mothers, babies and families is the mission of HSC’s Healthy Start, a federally funded home visitation program. Community health and social workers partner with mothers and families to help them stay healthy.

Accomplishing the Healthy Start mission means educating communities about infant and maternal mortality.

In Texas, the 2018 infant mortality rate reached “a historic low” of 5.5 deaths per 1,000 live births, according to the state’s 2020 Healthy Texas Mothers and Babies Data Book.

But the data reveals how disparities persist. The infant mortality rate for Non-Hispanic Black mothers was 10.9 deaths per 1,000 live births.