In 1989, African Americans had an infant mortality rate about 2.2 times higher than Anglos, with little difference in the gaps for endogenous and exogenous mortality. The racial gap was related to differences in sociodemographic, maternal-health, and health-care factors, and was greater between high school graduates than between high school…

Among 1980-82 Florida birth cohorts, infant mortality rates were higher for Puerto Ricans and Mexicans than for Cubans and other Hispanics. Controlling for birth weight and prenatal care had little impact on differentials, but interactions were found among marital status, maternal age, and Hispanic group identity. Contains 47 references. (SV)

Health statistics show wide variations in risk and determinants of infant death across racial and ethnic subpopulations, a within-group advantage to being an immigrant, and the same direction of effects for mortality risk factors across groups. Efforts to lower infant mortality should benefit all groups. Contains 83 references. (TD)