Health Equity
WHAT IS EQUITY?
"In the simplest terms, it means fairness, which is not necessarily the same as equality. It's not about everybody getting the same thing. It's about everybody getting what they need to improve the quality of their situation."
- Cynthia Silver Parker, Senior Associate, Interaction Institute for Social Change
"Inequities are created when barriers prevent individuals from reaching their full potential."
- American Public Health Association
WHY EQUITY IN BIRTH OUTCOMES MATTERS
DID YOU KNOW?
-
Black babies are TWO times more likely to be born with very low birth weights compared to non-Hispanic White babies.
-
Babies born with low birth weights are at risk for both short-term and long-term health conditions.
-
Black babies are also TWO times more likely to die before their first birthday compared to non-Hispanic White babies.
WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?
Every baby deserves to start life with the resources, support, and environment in which they can survive and thrive.
However, due to risk factors such as parents' income and education level, neighborhood of residence, exposure to crime and poverty, and adverse childhood events like trauma or accidental injury, Black babies do not have equitable birth outcomes.
We want to change that for our Black babies in Solano County by first focusing on the maternal and infant population in Vallejo, CA. Through collaboration with community members and other representatives, we can move towards equity in birth outcomes throughout Solano County.