Source: WNC Healthy Impact Community Health Survey, 2021
While county-level examination of infant mortality by race in WNC is limited by small numbers (fewer than 20 infant deaths per 5 year period), North Carolina data indicates that:
(Institute for Women’s Policy Research, 2019)
Differences in health outcomes across social groups, economic status, and racial/ethnic identity are closely linked with disparities in social determinants of health, which disproportionately burden individuals and communities who experience systemic disadvantage and/ or discrimination. See our data story on the social determinants of health to learn more about how the conditions in which people are born, live, work, play, learn, worship, and age can influence their ability to achieve good health for themselves and their families.
In 2017, 1 in 10 babies was born preterm in North Carolina. Compared with singleton births, multiple births in North Carolina were 7 times as likely to be preterm in 2015.
In 2015, preterm birth and low birth weight accounted for about 17% of infant deaths. Babies who survive may have breathing problems, feeding difficulties, cerebral palsy, developmental delay, vision or hearing problems.
The Institute of Medicine estimates that the annual economic cost (medical, educational, and lost productivity) associated with preterm birth is over $26 billion in direct and indirect costs.
Source: WNCHN – Online Key Informant Survey, 2018
The information in this section should be interpreted and used with care. It should be used only to help local health departments and agencies begin to understand community perceptions about local health issues. Communities are strongly encouraged to collect their own, local-level data to inform local planning and evaluation activities.
“Focus on pregnancy medical home, appropriate care for pregnant women, use of [local care management and federally funded programs].”
“[A local program] does a great job working with at risk families to ensure infant and child health.”
“Absence of a birthing center. Lack of physicians who do wellness and birthing practices for expectant mothers. Lack of education for women living in poverty around healthy prenatal care. Drug addiction.”
“Lack of financial support at the state and local level prevent the expansion of health department and school health services.”
‘Sistas’ Aim to Reduce Disparities in the Delivery Room (4/1/19)
BPR News
The Secret to Saving the Lives of Black Mothers and Babies (12/15/19)
Politico
The western North Carolina region includes 17 communities: 16 counties and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI)
The list below represents a sample of what is happening in the region around this key health issue. Visit www.nc211.org for more resources.
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