Maternity and infant care, race and birth outcomes.

We examine the effect of a large, comprehensive maternity and infant care (MIC) program on birthweight and infant mortality in an economically depressed urban population. The study is based on linked birth, infant death and program files for 1985-87 Cleveland and East Cleveland, Ohio, birth cohorts (N = 31,415). Taking into account differences in risk factors, Black MIC infants experienced lower neonatal and endogenous mortality, but White MIC infants had higher postneonatal and exogenous mortality than their same race, non-MIC counterparts. Birthweight distributions were also more favorable for Black than White clients. We discuss the policy implications of our findings.