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Guilford County health officials and community partners continue to confront the county’s high infant mortality rate, with a renewed focus on addressing the stark racial disparities that persist. During a Monday evening meeting of the county’s Infant Mortality Task Force and Every Baby Guilford initiative, physicians and health leaders shared updates on programs and data aimed at saving more infant lives across the county.
Dr. Alisa Starbucks of High Point Medical Center and Dr. Adia Ross, an internist at the same facility, presented the “Healthy Systems Infant Mortality Initiatives” update, emphasizing that infant mortality remains a countywide crisis.
“Infant mortality is all of our problem,” said Ross. “It’s a challenge that touches every family across Guilford County and North Carolina, and we know that every infant death is a tragedy. Behind every statistic is a family that is changed forever.”
The presentation highlighted several ongoing community programs that support new mothers and families. The Joyful Shelf food pantry has assisted more than 100 families, while the Bundle of Joy program has distributed more than 800 backpacks this year, each designed to convert into a portable crib and stocked with essential baby supplies. “It provides a place for safe sleep, which we know is really important and can be some of our causes of infant mortality,” said Starbucks.
High Point Medical Center is also working to expand access to doulas, who provide emotional and physical support before, during and after childbirth.
Representatives with Cone Health’s Center for Women’s Healthcare presented updates on its “Birth Equity Journey,” which examines the systemic causes of racial disparities in maternal and infant health. The report noted that sustained exposure to stress hormones can lead to complications in pregnancy, and that systemic bias and racial discrimination play a major role in the elevated stress levels experienced by Black women.
The report also included patient accounts describing experiences of being treated dismissively or stereotyped by healthcare providers. Some patients reported being described as having “an attitude” or being treated as if staff were afraid of them, behaviors that contribute to mistrust and higher stress during pregnancy.
According to the Cone Health data, one in five Black and Hispanic women reported poor treatment from hospital staff, compared to only eight percent of White mothers. Black women were also found to be 40 percent more likely to undergo cesarean sections, often reporting that they felt bullied or pressured into the procedure.
In 2018, a deeper review of Cone Health’s postpartum data revealed that patients of color with lower blood pressure readings were more likely to be readmitted than their White counterparts, suggesting possible bias in discharge and follow-up care. Cone Health has since identified a disparity in breastfeeding rates between Black and White mothers and has established an outpatient lactation team and support group to promote culturally competent care.
Recent data from Guilford County’s Department of Health and Human Services shows that the problem remains urgent. In 2023, the county’s overall infant mortality rate was 9.2 deaths per 1,000 live births, about 28 percent higher than the state average of 6.9. However, the rate for Black infants was far higher, at 16.5 deaths per 1,000 births, compared with just 2.2 for White infants. Black babies accounted for 70 percent of all infant deaths in Guilford County last year, despite representing only 39 percent of births.
Historically, in 2018 the infant mortality rate for African American infants in Guilford County was 15.1 deaths per 1,000 births, compared with 2.9 per 1,000 for White infants. The county has since set a goal to reduce racial disparities in infant mortality by 50 percent by 2026, and to eliminate them entirely by 2031.
Every Baby Guilford and its partners are also working to establish new “safe space” centers for mothers, including one at the Chavis Library and another at the YWCA, where families can receive prenatal resources, breastfeeding support and peer mentoring.
The meeting made clear that while progress is being made, Guilford County’s infant mortality rate, particularly among Black families, remains a defining public health challenge. Efforts such as culturally responsive care, improved access to doulas, and equitable community resources are being prioritized as the county seeks to save lives and close long-standing racial gaps.
