Health Equity

Health equity means that all people have full and equal access to opportunities that enable them to lead healthy lives. Safe and healthy pregnancies and births are critical to achieving health equity. In the United States, Black women and birthing people face the highest rates of death during and after childbirth, and Black babies have the highest rates of infant mortality, low birth weight, and prematurity. Improving Black maternal and infant health requires changing policies, programs, and systems to actively address this disparity. BIH is just one example of a CDPH program dedicated to this mission.

BIH program services are complemented by CDPH’s Perinatal Equity Initiative (PEI)​. PEI addresses racial disparities in infant mortality by providing support and resources to Black families.