Healthcare Access in Robeson County
An interactive analysis of key challenges to access to care.
The Five Pillars of Healthcare Access
Access to healthcare is a complex issue. We can understand it better by looking at four key pillars. Click each tab below to explore the data-driven challenges facing Robeson County in each area.
Pillar I: Health Insurance Coverage
Insurance is the primary gateway to care. The data highlights a critical reliance on Medicaid, with over half of the county's children covered by public insurance programs.
Pillar II: Workforce & Availability
Care is inaccessible if providers and facilities are not available. While UNC Health Southeastern provides a central hub, the high ratio of patients to providers signals a strained primary care network.
UNC Health Southeastern serves as the county's primary medical facility. Primary care is further supported by Robeson Health Care Corporation, but the region faces significant recruitment challenges for specialists.
Pillar III: Utilization & Timeliness
Utilization data reveals severe gaps in preventive care. The rate of preventable hospital stays is among the highest in the state, and barely half of pregnant women receive early prenatal care.
Pillar IV: Affordability
Affordability is the central barrier in Robeson County. With nearly 29% of the population living in poverty and a median income well below the state average, medical costs are often prohibitive.
The poverty rate of 28.8% and a median household income of approximately $42,180 create a challenging environment where basic healthcare often competes with other essential needs.
Pillar V: Local Investment
This pillar tracks investments in community health. While specific per-capita expenditure data is currently pending 2024 reporting, local health initiatives focus heavily on school-based nursing and outreach.
Public Health Snapshot: Robeson County, NC
Maternal and Child Health Engagement
A look at key maternal and child health indicators in the county.
Policy Recommendations
Based on the current health snapshot of Robeson County, local leaders and advocates should consider the following interventions to improve maternal and child health outcomes:
- Expand Care Infrastructure and Outreach: With only 62.1% of pregnant individuals receiving first-trimester prenatal care, ensuring funding and support for community health workers and mobile clinics is crucial to connect rural residents to early interventions.
- Specialized Interventions for High-Risk Pregnancies: The county faces an exceptionally High Maternal Vulnerability Index (96) and elevated rates of Severe Maternal Morbidity (70.8 per 10,000), alongside 11.6% Preterm Births and 11.8% Low Birth Weight. Direct public health funding toward group prenatal care models and wraparound maternal support services. Establishing maternal medical homes can help closely monitor high-risk factors.
- Fund Community-Based Doula and Lactation Programs: To combat the infant mortality rate (9.6) and boost the county's notably low breastfeeding initiation rate (51.9%), subsidize community-based doula and lactation consultant (IBCLC) services, which are proven to improve birth outcomes and early infant nutrition.
- Invest in Comprehensive Youth Reproductive Health Education: The Teen Birth Rate is significantly elevated at 35.6 per 1,000. Partner with local school districts and community centers to implement evidence-based, comprehensive reproductive health education and expand access to youth-friendly family planning services and long-acting reversible contraception (LARC).