Every expecting parent deserves the best health care experience for a healthy pregnancy and baby. Yet our health care system does not give equal treatment to Black women and babies, resulting in higher rates of prematurity, low birthweight, and even death. These rates are far higher than other racial and ethnic groups.
We can’t accept this. Together, we have the power to make change and preserve San Diego’s Black Legacy Now, where Black families are healthy, safe, and thriving.
Black infants in San Diego are nearly 3 times more likely to die
than White infants.
Black infants in San Diego are nearly 60% more likely to be born
premature and nearly 2 times more likely to be born with low
birthweight than White infants.
California’s Black mothers are over 3 times more likely to die
due to pregnancy or delivery complications than White mothers.
These disparities persist irrespective of factors such as
the mother’s income or education.
In response to these longstanding disparities, California’s governor authorized funding for the Perinatal Equity Initiative (PEI) within the California Department of Public Health, and charged counties to address the root causes of these disparities, create interventions, and coordinate community planning and awareness. The VISION of the San Diego Perinatal Equity Initiative is for all African-American families to be healthy, safe, and thriving. Its MISSION is to improve birth and maternal health outcomes for African-American families in San Diego County by changing the systems that contribute to social injustices, economic disparities, and racial and health inequities. All models in the PEI campaign are local community members.