Poverty decides if there is death before life
The philosophical and social arguments about a woman's right to terminate her pregnancy are difficult.
While I advocate an educated pro-choice society rather than a pro-life doctrine, it is one subject where I understand that someone's spiritual beliefs will mean we will always differ.
One thing we know for sure is that contraception saves lives. As contraception use rises, maternal and infant deaths decline.
However, it's a shame that some of the reactionary fervour of many pro-lifers, particularly in America, including attacks on abortion clinics and those that attend them, is not instead aimed at the inequality of a society where poor children are twice as likely to die at birth than those of the rich.
Indeed, as a new Save The Children report published today shows, despite having more beds and doctors specialising in new borns than Canada, the UK and Australia, the survival rate of the average American baby is lower than the survival rate in any of these countries.
In the United States, the newborn mortality rate for all races combined is 4.7 deaths per 1,000 live births (a suprisingly poor 10th place for the world's richest society), but for non-Hispanic American blacks, the rate is 9.3 deaths per 1,000 live births.
To put this in context, deaths for black Americans are higher than the average rates in Cuba, Chile, Bahrain, Belarus, Malaysia, Oman, Hungary and Slovakia, to name but a few.
America's rural poor are the most likely group to give birth to children that die within 24 hours.
Around the world, 2 million babies a year that could be saved, do not get to live beyond their first day of life, and the inequality in America is extended globally to African nations, where mothers and children have the lowest chance of surviving a live birth.
Americans can try and help this situation by calling on their president and congressment to support the Child and Newborn Act (HR 4222) which aims to release resources to combat the issue.
And if you're worried about that putting your taxes up, then check out the cost so far of the war in Iraq at the bottom of the page.
Find the full Save The Children report here Save The Children PDF.
While I advocate an educated pro-choice society rather than a pro-life doctrine, it is one subject where I understand that someone's spiritual beliefs will mean we will always differ.
One thing we know for sure is that contraception saves lives. As contraception use rises, maternal and infant deaths decline.
However, it's a shame that some of the reactionary fervour of many pro-lifers, particularly in America, including attacks on abortion clinics and those that attend them, is not instead aimed at the inequality of a society where poor children are twice as likely to die at birth than those of the rich.
Indeed, as a new Save The Children report published today shows, despite having more beds and doctors specialising in new borns than Canada, the UK and Australia, the survival rate of the average American baby is lower than the survival rate in any of these countries.
In the United States, the newborn mortality rate for all races combined is 4.7 deaths per 1,000 live births (a suprisingly poor 10th place for the world's richest society), but for non-Hispanic American blacks, the rate is 9.3 deaths per 1,000 live births.
To put this in context, deaths for black Americans are higher than the average rates in Cuba, Chile, Bahrain, Belarus, Malaysia, Oman, Hungary and Slovakia, to name but a few.
America's rural poor are the most likely group to give birth to children that die within 24 hours.
Around the world, 2 million babies a year that could be saved, do not get to live beyond their first day of life, and the inequality in America is extended globally to African nations, where mothers and children have the lowest chance of surviving a live birth.
Americans can try and help this situation by calling on their president and congressment to support the Child and Newborn Act (HR 4222) which aims to release resources to combat the issue.
And if you're worried about that putting your taxes up, then check out the cost so far of the war in Iraq at the bottom of the page.
Find the full Save The Children report here Save The Children PDF.
posted by ENGLISH RANTER at Tuesday, May 09, 2006
8 Comments:
I've heard it said by a rich white guy that America is the worst country in the world to be poor in.
Its all so very wrong. Capitalism and religion makes slaves of us all. The most vulnerable in society still chained to a nasty, brutish and short life.
No offence to any Americans who visit, but it's not a country I would want to be poor and sick in. I know they sneer at the UK model of social and welfare legislation, but that safety net is one of the reasons we have lower infant mortality rates and are also healthier in old age.
so do thay says how many of those r 1. crack babies
2. no prenatal care? dun believe all u hear about u.s./poor/medical care bcos u can get treated ..indigent care is available 2 everybody but u never hear bout that do u?
just my opinion tho
Hi pup. This wasn't a dig at American healthcare specifically. It's just that it has a microcosm of the world problem happening inside its own country more starkly than others.
Even in Sweden, not known for its crack problem or a wide gap in rich and poor, and with one of the best set of survival rates in the world - someone from a deprived area is a third more likely to suffer infant mortality than the national average.
The real issue is that most of them are avoidable with education, a good diet, and free access to healthcare.
I don't think America's crack problem is widespread enough to make the difference in the numbers shown.
But additional social issues arising from the mental health of those who suffer an infant mortality, may aggravate problems of drug use or crime, in areas society can least afford it.
Plus urban black people - who I would think have a more likely chance to score crack than rural ones, have a lower mortality score, so I'm not sure drug use is the key.
All the best,
E.R.
The very poor in America get some form of healthcare..the very poor get a surprising amount of public programs..as they should..but should they make a dollar over the "poor" level..all the assistance melts away.
So it's usually the working poor that get fucked.
I'm so prochoice..anti abortion,( is anyone really FOR abortion?) but every person should be able to do what they think is right for them ...
And the stupidity in America is that most insurance companies will not pay for birth control..
There are clinics for that but it's based on income and then again, the working poor get screwed.
Do I have any solutions ?..no..I'm as confused as the next guy.
all i do is try to make an educated decision when i vote.
but all the parties are starting to look alike.
It's time for a new revolution
So abortion is only provided if you pay for it in america (i'm guessing there are get out clauses for health risks)?
well, i think, then, we've found the reason the poor have a higher infant mortality rate, and frankly, I'm shocked.
While making it free doesn't persuade anyone to have one (as you say cynnie, who WANTS one) making it at a price means there simply is no choice for some people.
Additionally education is key. Maybe you can get it for free, but if you dont know, or cant write to fill in the form, then how do you know.
I've got to stress I'm not interested in this turning into the rights and wrongs of abortion, but it seems that if condoms, the pill, etc, and indeed abortion, are not at least offered without a price (as they are in the UK), after significant but swift independent advice, then of course the poor will have a higher infant mortality rate.
More importantly, most people's views against abortion are based on the late death of the foetus, with some as late as 24 weeks in the UK.
The death of a new born child is the death after almost 38 weeks. Three months after legal abortions in most countries. If terminations are immoral three months earlier, what does it say about a world that lets 2 million babies die at birth three months later?
Thanks for everyone that is writing on this one. If anyone knows the system, or wants to argue another view, please let us know.
E.R.
ps this is the second post string suggesting revolution. I almost feel young again.
I know that abortions were once offered free to the very poor..I really dont know now..I do know that since bush was elected (arghh..dont get me started on that issue)But since he took over a lot of states have started making it harder and harder for poor people to get safe abortions...
Oh darlin..I've been preachin revolution for eons now..
But i think the youth in my country have to lose a lot more rights before they wake up..
if they ever wake up..
the pampered asses.
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