Special to IFN
RALEIGH — The 2023 Infant and Child Mortality Data from the North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force Report shows non-Hispanic Black and American Indian children have higher mortality rates compared to other racial and ethnic groups.
In 2023, the disparity worsened, with Black infants dying at rates three times higher than white infants.
When compared to other states, North Carolina had the 10th highest infant mortality rate in the country, highlighting the critical need for the Department of Health and Human Services efforts to ensure the health and well-being of children and families.
“All babies born in North Carolina deserve a healthy start to life,” said NCDHHS Secretary Dev Sangvai. “We are committed to ensuring women and families have the care and support they need prior to, during and after pregnancy, no matter where they live or how much money they make.”
NCDHHS recently released an updated NC Perinatal Health Strategic Plan that details efforts currently underway to improve maternal health and birth outcomes as well as recent accomplishments, including paid parental leave for state employees, Medicaid reimbursement for group prenatal care and increased postpartum health care coverage for NC Medicaid beneficiaries. North Carolina’s Healthy Opportunity Pilots have also been critical to address non-medical drivers of health like housing, food and transportation to improve the health of women and children in our state.
Additionally, Medicaid Expansion is improving health outcomes for children and families in North Carolina. In just over one year since North Carolina became the 41st state to expand Medicaid, more than 640,000 people have gained health care coverage, giving more people access to necessary and critical care, ultimately leading to healthier pregnancies. Studies show states that have expanded Medicaid have better maternal and infant outcomes than states that have not.
Other key points of the 2023 Infant and Child Mortality Data include:
♦ The 2023 overall infant mortality rate in North Carolina rose slightly in 2023 from 2022 to 6.9 deaths per 1,000 births. There have only been slight fluctuations in this number since 2010.
♦ The youth suicide rate has increased over the past 20 years, with suicide being one of the leading causes of death for youth ages 10-18.
♦ The child homicide rate remains high due to the substantial increase in firearm-related homicides.
NCDHHS is working closely with NCDPS and the state’s Office of Violence Prevention to address the alarming trend of increased firearm related injuries and deaths in North Carolina. Together with partners, the state launched a safe storage campaign that includes the distribution of gun locks and safes to community organizations and local health departments. The Office of Violence Prevention has invested in the expansion of community and hospital-based violence prevention programs.
“By working together to address and prevent violence as a public health issue, we can create safer communities where our most vulnerable populations – especially infants and children – can thrive,” said Kelly Kimple, Interim State Health Director and NCDHHS Chief Medical Officer. “By offering proven, evidence-based solutions like safe gun storage that meet children and families where they are in North Carolina’s communities, we’re working to reverse the trends in preventable child fatalities related to violence and injury.”