Advancing Birth Equity in Los Angeles
Clinic Interview Findings and the Impact of Structural Racism in Black Neighborhoods: Across the country and in Los Angeles County, Black women and birthing people continue to disproportionately experience negative birthing outcomes and birthing experiences compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Despite the fact that Black deliveries on average account for only about eight percent of births in the county, Black babies are two-to-three times more likely to die in the first year of life compared to white babies; and the rate of babies born prematurely is 50 percent higher among Black birthing people than for white or Asian babies.
When compared to other racial and ethnic groups, Black women and birthing people are also more likely to experience serious pregnancy complications. Birth inequities have persisted over decades and are rooted in structural racism, which research shows has measurable impacts on Black bodies. These inequities are further exacerbated by a Los Angeles-area health care landscape that is historically fragmented, layered, and complex ( CHCF ,2021). With over 50 active delivery hospitals and over 60 federally qualified health centers, there are numerous barriers to the continuity of perinatal care across Los Angeles County.
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