U.S. has second worst newborn death rate in modern world, report says, page 1

In a study, scientist find an alarming death rate in the US newborns. Some believe that part of the reason is diparity in access to healthcare. Japan, which ranks a lot better, has free prenatal care.

www.cnn.com
An estimated 2 million babies die within their first 24 hours each year worldwide and the United States has the second worst newborn mortality rate in the developed world, according to a new report.

American babies are three times more likely to die in their first month as children born in Japan, and newborn mortality is 2.5 times higher in the U.S. than in Finland, Iceland or Norway, Save the Children researchers found.

Only Latvia, with six deaths per 1,000 live births, has a higher death rate for newborns than the U.S., which is tied near the bottom of industrialized nations with Hungary, Malta, Poland and Slovakia with five deaths per 1,000 births.

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Once again, a medical study reveals a dismal state of affairs in the US population health and healthcare.

I am dismayed, once again, that our leaders are virtually ignoring the ongoing slaughter of Americans by preventable desease, while pouring trillions of dollars in overseas military adventures.

[edit on 9-5-2006 by intrepid]