NC Launches Plan To Reduce Disparities In Historically Marginalized Populations

By Aaliyah Bowden

Gaps in maternal and infant health are a focus of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services' plan to reduce disparities among historically marginalized communities.

North Carolina’s health department is doubling down on health equity through a new plan.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services introduced a health improvement plan to reduce disparities in historically marginalized populations through equity, education, and economic stability.

“Healthy people and healthy communities are the foundation of a thriving, prosperous state,” said Dr. Susan Kansagra, NCDHHS assistant secretary for public health. “This is why we need to ensure every North Carolinian has the opportunity to be healthy, regardless of their race or ethnicity, where they live or how much money they have.”

Last year health officials, community members, and organizations met to refine strategies and to identify potential policy reforms.

NCDHHS, Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation, North Carolina Area Health Education Centers and the North Carolina Institute of Medicine worked together to build the state’s game plan.

The North Carolina State Health Improvement Plan uses the same goals and set of objectives in Healthy North Carolina 2030 to propose policies and programs to improve life expectancy and quality of life for residents.

Black infant mortality is a top focus. Black babies are 2.5 times more likely to die before their first birthday compared to white babies. The plan aims to reduce infant mortality rate from 6.9 to 6.0 per 1,000 live births by 2030. In 2020, the disparity ratio between Black and white babies was 2.7. The plan hopes to lower the ratio to 1.5 by 2030.

Some of the ways officials plan to resolve the issue include:

• Improve access to prenatal care programs through home-visits and doula services

• Cultural and linguistic competency in preconception routine check-ups and reproductive planning

• Normalize breastfeeding in public places ex. churches, businesses, and other public entities

• Support training on implicit bias and determinants of health

• Increase access to health insurance

NCDHHS are looking at factors that may put Black babies at a greater risk. For instance, medical, educational, economic, environmental and societal factors play a significant role in infant deaths. These factors include whether the mother has a safe place to live and access to health care and food.

“We know that common objectives and aligned work across multiple sectors are essential for making meaningful, lasting change,” said Dr. Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson, NCDHHS state health director and chief medical officer. “We encourage partners to identify those Healthy North Carolina 2030 indicators your organization can adopt and become involved in the process of making lasting, positive change.”

NC SHIP proposed policy initiatives which will bring awareness to the intersection between behavioral health and the criminal justice system such as adequate care and treatment for those returning from incarceration. The plan also aims to focus on the workforce crisis by creating policies to help rural areas and people of color.