KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Data released last week by Cradle Kalamazoo for 2022 through 2024 shows Kalamazoo County has the lowest overall infant mortality rate and lowest Black infant mortality rate in Michigan, with Black infant mortality reaching its lowest on record in the state since the inception of Cradle Kalamazoo in 2014.
Cradle Kalamazoo was designed to reduce Kalamazoo County’s infant mortality rate and to eliminate racial disparities in the IMR for Black babies.
The 26-partner consortium works collectively toward the goal of reducing the county’s IMR to 3.0 deaths per 1000 live births by the year 2030, with zero racial disparities.
Infant mortality, the death of a baby prior to their first birthday, is considered one of the most reliable measures of community health.
From 2022-2024, the overall IMR for Kalamazoo County was 4.5 compared to the state’s 6.3.
The IMR for white babies was 2.8 and the IMR for Black babies was 7, which was the lowest in the county since at least 1980, while the state’s were 4.3 and 13.2 respectively.
These numbers also show a dramatic reduction in racial disparities, with Black babies dying at 2.5 times the rate of white babies compared to the previous 4.8.
While Cradle Kalamazoo and partners celebrate this significant milestone, they acknowledge there is still work to be done to further reduce racial disparities.
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