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

Source: CNN

(CNN) -- 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 United States 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 United States, which is tied near the bottom of industrialized nations with Hungary, Malta, Poland and Slovakia with five deaths per 1,000 births.

"The United States has more neonatologists and neonatal intensive care beds per person than Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, but its newborn rate is higher than any of those countries," said the annual State of the World's Mothers report.

The report, which analyzed data from governments, research institutions and international agencies, found higher newborn death rates among U.S. minorities and disadvantaged groups. For African-Americans, the mortality rate is nearly double that of the United States as a whole, with 9.3 deaths per 1,000 births.

I could be wrong, but I have to think illegal immigration plays a role here. I did some googling and searching and came up with a hatful of nothing. Census does not count a Hispanic category for this. I have to wonder if this is like the high school drop-out figures that neglect to mention illegal immigration.

Did a little more searching and came across this from Vdare...

“Central Harlem's infant-mortality rate rose to 13.1 deaths per 1,000 births last year - more than double the citywide level.

“The news comes at a time when health officials are trumpeting a record-low citywide infant-mortality rate of 6.1.

“Advocates and health-care experts blamed the Harlem rate - which rose last year while the city's overall rate dipped - on delays in getting funding and a large influx of immigrants who don't have ready access to health care….

“‘In Central Harlem, there are a lot of immigrants from Africa,’ explained Adam Aponte, chief of pediatrics at North General Hospital.

“‘They don't not how to access health care. They are uninsured or may be eligible but do not apply because they are fearful that their immigration status may be revealed.’"

I sense there's a stronger connection here, but I'll be damned if I can find it. Again, this seems like a place where the truth is being suppressed to maintain the all puppy dogs all the time view of illegal immigration.

Technorati Tags: illegal immigration, infant mortality