Save the Children (USA) released its report yesterday on the State of the World’s Mothers and highlighted dying in the first day of life. The United States led the industrialized world in having 50% more deaths in the first day of life than the rest of the countries combined. Another killer fact. The report is at
http://www.savethechildrenweb.org/SOWM-2013/files/assets/common/downloads/State%20of%20the%20WorldOWM-2013.pdf
USA has about 32 newborns die in the first day every day. More than the Sandy Hook School tragedy which happened on only one day. The 32 newborns die every day in their first day of life.
The New York Times carried the report today but didn’t consider the US situation newsworthy and instead concentrated on Africa which is also not doing well.
The report considered stress, racism and poverty as contributing factors to first-day deaths in the US.
SCF has been calculating a Mothers’ Index comprising five indicators including lifetime risk of maternal death, under-5 mortality rate, expected years of formal schooling, gross national income per capital and participation of women in national government. The US ranks 30th in the overall index and tied for 89th in percent of seats held by women at the national government level. The United Kingdom does much better at 23rd in the Mothers' Index and 58th in women's political participation.
STephen
Stephen Bezruchka MD, MPH
Departments of Health Services & Global Health
School of Public Health
Box 357660
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington 98195-7660
USA
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