The latest March of Dimes report for 2024 highlights concerning trends for Durham, showing a rise in preterm birth rates, now at 10.9% with a grade of D, up from 10.4%. This slight increase signals that challenges remain, despite significant breastfeeding and maternal health initiatives in the area.
View the full North Carolina report below.
Possible Factors Contributing to Durham’s Decline
- Residual Effects of 2023 Stressors:
- 2023 was a challenging year nationwide, with lingering effects of the pandemic, economic stress, and healthcare workforce shortages. These factors likely exacerbated disparities in access to maternal care.
- Racial Disparities:
- The preterm birth rate for Black birthing people remains 1.4x higher than the general population, reflecting systemic inequities that Durham is not immune to.
- Healthcare Gaps:
- While Durham has done notable work in breastfeeding advocacy, the report emphasizes a broader range of determinants like access to adequate prenatal care, management of chronic conditions, and socioeconomic pressures.
- Remember the first center closed and our new purses weren’t open yet.
- While Durham has done notable work in breastfeeding advocacy, the report emphasizes a broader range of determinants like access to adequate prenatal care, management of chronic conditions, and socioeconomic pressures.
- Policy Shortcomings:
- North Carolina’s limited adoption of supportive maternal health policies, such as inadequate midwifery services and lack of paid family leave (for non-county employees), could indirectly influence outcomes in Durham.
- Environmental and Community Risks:
- Increased exposure to extreme heat and poor air quality, highlighted as maternal health risk factors, may also play a role in Durham, though this requires localized investigation.
Is This Data for 2023?
Yes, most of the reported data reflects 2023 metrics, aligning with trends over the past decade. These insights suggest that while efforts have been impactful in areas like breastfeeding, broader systemic challenges still hinder overall maternal and infant health improvements.
Next Steps for Durham
- Strengthen Cross-Sector Collaboration: Address maternal and infant health more holistically, incorporating breastfeeding initiatives with efforts to improve prenatal care, reduce chronic health risks, and combat racial disparities.
- Policy Advocacy: Leverage this data to advocate for midwifery licensure, paid family leave beyond county employees, enhanced Medicaid coverage in North Carolina, and we continue to call for Breastfeeding-Friendly and Baby-Friendly initiatives across all Health sectors.
- Community Engagement: Continue addressing social determinants, possibly expanding initiatives targeting housing stability, food security, and stress reduction among expectant families.
Would you like help brainstorming targeted responses or policy advocacy strategies? Email us.