Infant mortality rate remains high in Guilford County, new health assessment shows

The Guilford County Division of Public Health has released its Community Health Assessment — the first since 2019. 

The 259-page document uses local, state and national data to set the county’s health agenda.

The health assessment was also influenced by survey data from over 360 Guilford County residents, health care providers and other government agencies. It identified six health priorities including gun violence, access to health care and infant mortality.

Division of Public Health staff found life expectancy within the county dropped steadily between 2012 and 2020 from 79 to 77.7 years. 

When broken down by race the assessment shows white residents had a life expectancy of 79.1 years to Black residents’ 75.1.

A look at 2022 statistics showed out of nearly 5,900 live births in Guilford County, 52 infants died before their first birthday. That equates to a mortality rate 29% higher than North Carolina’s and more than twice as high as the country's rate during the same year. 

According to the assessment, the county will work toward developing community health improvement plans for at least two of the identified health priorities. 

Santiago Ochoa covers healthcare for WFDD in partnership with Report For America. Follow him on X and Instagram: @santi8a98