A Success Story
In 2024, the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health (DPH) expanded its Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) by incorporating maternal interviews with families that experienced pregnancy loss. FIMR gathers community-level information that informs countywide prevention programs by:
- identifying factors contributing to adverse outcomes that go beyond medical causes, including socioeconomic, administrative, and environmental influences;
- conducting analyses and actions that identify community problems and implementing community-based solutions; and
- applying strategies centered on specific communities, rather than hospital-based reviews, which are limited to a hospital’s patient population.
With the addition of maternal interviews, DPH now gains valuable insights into maternal experiences and perceptions related to pregnancy loss, along with suggestions for system-level changes.
Health Care Access
RATE OF UNINSURED REMAINS CONSTANT
Prenatal Care
EARLY PRENATAL CARE RATES DROP TO 10-YEAR LOW
Leading Causes of Death for Children Under Five
DECREASE IN DEATHS FOR CHILDREN UNDER FIVE
Overweight & Obesity
DROP IN THE PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN WHO ARE OVERWEIGHT
Chronic Disease
ONE-YEAR DEATH RATES FOR HEART DISEASE, DIABETES, AND STROKE DECLINE
Mental Health
SUICIDE RATE REMAINS LARGELY UNCHANGED
Substance Use Disorder
ADMISSION TO RECOVERY SERVICES FOR ADULTS AND YOUTHS DECLINED DURING FIVE-YEAR PERIOD
Veterans
REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE CONTINUE TO GROW, PROVIDING CRITICAL COMPENSATION FOR LOCAL VETERANS
Child Welfare
NUMBER OF SUBSTANTIATED ABUSE/NEGLECT REPORTS CONTINUE TO DECLINE
Sexually Transmitted Infections
RATES OF MOST SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS BEGINNING TO DECLINE