State Policy · AL
Alabama Black Belt Children Face Higher Infant Mortality, Limited Obstetric Access
Children in Alabama's 24-county Black Belt region experience infant mortality rates above 9 per 1,000 live births versus 6.5 in non-Black Belt counties, with some counties exceeding 30 per 1,000, according to University of Alabama researchers. Only three Black Belt counties have hospitals with obstetrics services, forcing most pregnant women to travel outside their county for care. Researchers attribute disparities to lack of Medicaid expansion, transportation barriers, and lower household incomes, and recommend expanding the state's Well Woman Program and pre-kindergarten access.
Why it mattersMaternal health outcomes and access to obstetric services directly affect Medicaid managed care plans covering pregnant women and children in rural Alabama, where network adequacy and health equity measures are under increasing scrutiny.