Bringing The World Home To You

© 2024 WUNC North Carolina Public Radio
120 Friday Center Dr
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
919.445.9150 | 800.962.9862
91.5 Chapel Hill 88.9 Manteo 90.9 Rocky Mount 91.1 Welcome 91.9 Fayetteville 90.5 Buxton 94.1 Lumberton 99.9 Southern Pines 89.9 Chadbourn
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Child Life Expectancy Varies By County Wealth

North Carolina is now tracking babies born with alcohol or drug dependencies.
Tulane Publications
/
Flickr, Creative Commons

A baby born in Orange County can expect to live to be nearly 82 years old. That's according to health data analysis by the independent children's advocacy group NC Child.

But Research and Data Director Laila Bell says children in poorer counties aren't likely to live as long. A newborn in Rockingham County is unlikely to reach the age of 76.

"That's really associated with a number of factors like higher child poverty rates. There are also higher rates of food insecurity. And that means that children are living in homes that really struggle to provide access to enough healthy, nutritious foods to support their development."

Here's an interactive map with data cards by county.

Bell says mothers of children in poorer counties have limited access to pre-natal care. Children in those areas are less likely to have health insurance.

NC Child supports Medicaid expansion, infant mortality prevention, and early intervention services for young children.
 

Rebecca Martinez produces podcasts at WUNC. She’s been at the station since 2013, when she produced Morning Edition and reported for newscasts and radio features. Rebecca also serves on WUNC’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accountability (IDEA) Committee.
Related Stories
More Stories