BOH Agenda 052720 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Infant Mortality education in the prenatal period. Disparities in infant mortality also exist for babies born to women in poverty Infant mortality refers to the death of a baby in its first and those who are uninsured. Women in poverty expe- year of life. NC has an infant mortality rate of 7.2 and rience more challenging life circumstances, have lower Orange County has an infant mortality rate of 4.8, per educational attainment, are more likely to have limited 1,000 births. Leading causes of infant death are birth access to adequate food, transportation and housing, defects, low birth weight and preterm birth, maternal and are more likely to have limited access to health care pregnancy complications, sudden infant death syn- services. Furthermore, in NC, women who are undoc- drome (SIDS) and injuries92. Risk factors that attribute umented immigrants are ineligible for Medicaid during to infant death include: smoking or alcohol consumption pregnancy, severely restricting their access to care ".during pregnancy, maternal age - younger than age 20 and older than age 40, maternal obesity, intimate part- Infant&Child Health ner violence, food insecurity, and maternal educational status - less than a high school degree. Proper access to healthcare services, education, and healthy housing are just a few essentials that are critical Non-Hispanic African American mothers have an infant to a child's development. Environmental health, lack of mortality rate more than two times higher than White access to healthy food, and not having insurance cov- mothers. Women of color are more likely to live in erage can have long lasting effects on a child's health. communities that have fewer educational resources and Health disparities in children are linked to inequities employment opportunities due to historical segregation involving race, ethnicity, and immigrant status. During through housing and education policies. Women of 2013-2017, when we look at both Orange County and color also experience added stress due to discrimination NC, the highest percentage of children living in poverty regardless of socioeconomic status, while socioeconom- concentrated areas were African Americans (24.3%). is factors are often linked to birth outcomes and infant mortality. Within the medical system, unequal treat- A healthy home has long lasting impacts on a child's ment of mothers of color may contribute to worse birth health, particularly in children. A child's health can be outcomes; and implicit bias in health care delivery may influenced in a positive manner by having access to prevent women of color from receiving sufficient patient clean water, active spaces that promote physical ac- Figure 25: 2018 Orange County Infant Death Rate (per 1,000 live births) ■Orange County ■ NC 22.7 6.2 5 12.2 9.3 6.8 4.4 0 0 5 5.2 4.8 Total Death Rate Non-Hispanic White Non-Hispanic Black Non-Hispanic Non-Hispanic Other Hispanic Infant Death Infant Death Rate Infant Death Rate American Indian Infant Infant Death Rate Rate Death Rate Figure 26: Children living in Poverty Concentrated Areas (2013-2017) Orange County NC 24.30% 17.50% 11.30% 11.60% 14% 5.30% 2.40% 4.90% 5% 4% Total Population African American Hispanic or Latino Some other race White non- Hispanic 38 2019 COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT