Guilford County health fair spotlights Black maternal health, infant mortality gap

Guilford County’s infant mortality rate, 9.2 deaths for every 1,000 live births, has become a stark local reminder of why Black maternal health remains urgent in Greensboro and beyond. Black infants account for 70% of the county’s infant mortality, a gap that framed a health fair at Center City Park as more than a public-awareness event. It was a response to a problem measured in lives.

Every Baby Guilford hosted the interactive fair at Center City Park in Greensboro beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday as part of Black Maternal Health Week. Organizers aimed to connect residents with resources, education and support in a setting that was public, visible and easy to reach. Instead of asking families to find care on their own, the event brought information directly into the heart of the city.

The timing reflected a deeper public-health challenge that extends well past one weekend. Maternal and infant outcomes are shaped by access to prenatal care, support during and after pregnancy, transportation, insurance, chronic health conditions and the inequities built into health systems. In Guilford County, those factors show up in the numbers: the county’s infant mortality rate is higher than the state and national averages, and Black infants bear the largest share of the loss.

That disparity gives the fair a practical purpose. By placing resources in Center City Park, organizers reached people who may not attend a clinic-style outreach session or may struggle to get care through the usual channels. For families deciding how to navigate pregnancy and postpartum care locally, the event offered a chance to find help closer to where they live, work and spend time.

It also highlighted the role nonprofits and public-health advocates are playing in Guilford County’s response. Their strategy is direct: meet families where they are, build trust in familiar places and make the path to care less complicated. In a county where Black infants account for 70% of infant deaths, that approach is not symbolic. It is part of the effort to close a gap that has persisted for years.