Riverside University Health System launches health equity campaign for Black mothers

This week, Riverside County University Health System launched their maternal health equity campaign, “Rallying Around Sisters: Redefining and Strengthening the Village.” 

The campaign, which is backed by the county’s Perinatal Equity Initiative and Black Infant Health program, was created to “...address high mortality among pregnant Black women and their infants,” and provide free prenatal education, doula services, parenting classes for Black fathers and more.

The statewide Perinatal Equity Initiative was introduced in 2018 to build on the 1989 Black Infant Health Program which aim to decrease the mortality rate among Black mothers and their infants. 

According to the county, Black infant mortality rates are two to four times higher than any other racial group in the state of California. 

In 2023, the California Department of Public Health, CDPH, reported that Black mothers are 3 to 4 times as likely to die from a pregnancy-related death. 

The CDPH said that these high mortality rates are often due to preexisting health conditions and poor birthing care in traditional hospital settings.

Riverside County University Health System representatives say that their new campaign was created to highlight these reproductive health disparities and care that is currently available for Black families.

For more information, click here or call: 951-210-1385