The disparities in infant mortality rates

Chapter seven discusses infant and child health, and includes information on the disparities in infant mortality rates between different groups.  The objective of this assignment is for you to compare infant mortality rates between two counties (67 counties in Florida) found in Florida.

There are quite a few sources for the information.

Are the rates close between the two groups?  Remember that infant mortality is measured by the number of deaths per 1000 births.  Many counties in the state do not have that many births (25 counties have a population of less than 50,000 and only five counties have a population of over 1 million).  The number of births may be so small that the rate can be largely influenced by one death.  For example, if there were 100 births in a small county during one year, and one infant did not make it to the first birthday, the rate would be 10 compared to a larger county with 1000 births, and seven infants did not make it to the first birthday would be 7.

Identify a disparity found in the available statistics.  What factors influence the rate or disparity found?  Use your critical thinking skills.  Is the information found consistent with the info in the text?