Caitlin Smith, MPH

Research Highlights

What’s the question your research is trying to answer?

This study seeks to answer two research questions specifically: 1. Is there a statistically significant relationship between the amount of Healthy Start Grant funding a state receives and its’ total IMR, Black IMR, and white IMR and 2. Is there a statistically significant relationship between Black IMR and white IMR and sociodemographic characteristics (poverty rate, unemployment rate, proportion of individuals with a high school degree or higher, and the Gini index)?

Why did you choose this topic? Who did you work with?

I am passionate about exploring maternal and infant health disparities and I worked with HRSA over the summer as a practicum intern so was interested in exploring the impact of the HRSA-funded Healthy Start grant program on infant mortality disparities. Amy Eyler was my capstone professor overseeing my work for this project.

What conclusions came out of the research?

White IMR ranges from 2.43 to 8.1 deaths per 1,000 live births between the states and Black IMR ranges from 6.02 to 21.02 deaths. The bivariate regression analysis indicates that for each $1/person increase in HS funding that a state receives their Black IMR decreases by .179. Multiplying this effect means that for every $10 increase in HS funding per person, Black IMR decreases 1.79 deaths per 1,000 live births.