Battleangel

The infant mortality rate in the U.S. is hitting the roof and is now among the highest of surveyed industrialized states. Here are some clues as to why:

– Health care provision in the USA is more patchy than in most industrialised nations. Health insurance in the USA covers a smaller percentage of the population when compared to other rich countries.

– Maternity leave is shorter in the USA than in most industrialised countries

– Wealth distribution is more evenly spread among most industrialised nations, when compared to the USA. The USA has larger pockets of poverty. Infant mortality among African-Americans is 9 per 1,000 - closer to third world rates than developed country rates.

– Obesity rates among pregnant women are much higher in the USA than in other industrialised countries.