Child Health and Well-Being

Why does it matter?

Many consider the health of a community’s youngest members to be the most important indicator of a society’s well-being. If children are not being served, then there are significant needs not being met.

When looking at child health and well-being, there are a multitude of health-related indicators of a mother’s health during pregnancy and the health of the child. This includes prematurity rate (how many infants are born premature), women receiving adequate prenatal care during pregnancy, and children removed from their homes due to abuse. All of these are important in understanding the physical and mental health of our community's most vulnerable members. 

Where are we now?

We also consider the infant and fetal (stillborn) death rates. Noted is a decrease in both fetal and infant death rates, with infant deaths down from a high of 8.35 deaths per 1,000 births in 2018 to 7.8 deaths per 1,000 births in 2022. African Americans do have a higher rate of infant mortality, but the difference has decrease dramatically since 2016 with the gap, as of 2021, at 4 infant deaths per 1,000 births. High rates of infant deaths are linked to prematurity, toxic stress, and quality of prenatal care. We know Black women have a higher rate of maternal mortality (though not a local area of concern) and lack of access to quality prenatal care.

These health inequities are often based in racism and poverty. Of particular concern is our community’s SUID rate, or Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths. These include babies put to sleep in unsafe sleep environments, including co-sleeping. It is the number one cause of accidental death among children under one year of age, and it has been of increased importance. The community is facing an increasing trend in the SUID rate since 2015, when Escambia County's rate per 1,000 live births was 0.77 and is currently, as of 2022, 2.2. Community awareness may need to ramp up efforts to provide safe sleep education. Between 2020 and 2022 the SUID rate increased from 1.6 to 2.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in Escambia, while in Santa Rosa there has been variability in the SUID rate, however; the highest rate recorded over the past six years was 1.5 death per 1,000 and this occurred in 2022.

How do we measure it?

Child health and well-being is measured by both child and maternal health. By understanding whether the mother has had access to prenatal care, education or previous births, we can learn a lot about the socioeconomic conditions of mothers in the region. Poor maternal health impacts the growth and development of the child, which may result in abnormalities such as preterm births, low birthweight or sudden unexpected infant deaths.

Though these problems may arise from maternal health conditions, they can happen to even the healthiest of mothers. Unfortunately, birth defects are not the only cause of harm for children. Cases where children were removed from the home due to abuse were also measured for well-being statistics.

What call to action is linked to this indicator?

It is important for our community to recognize the importance of these indicators and bring attention to the birth to age three population as well as to their mothers. This is the foundation of a child’s life, as well as their health and well-being beginning in the womb, and that can have lifelong impacts.

To make a difference in these indicators, the community must begin to address the social determinants that are affecting women of childbearing age including access to transportation, affordable child care, and peer support for mental health. These determinants help families meet the needs of their children, physically and emotionally, which improves our community as a whole.