Reaction
Infant mortality is one of the greatest worldwide problems. In a report prepared for CNN, Jeff Green (2006) states that “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.” Available statistical data is more than frightening. In terms of this paper we would like to focus our attention on risk factors and specific dangers that newborn babies face during their first year of life. In addition, we will discuss low-weigh birth babies and dangers they will have to face during the early months after their birth.
In accordance with the research conducted by Gopal K. Singh and Stella M. Yu (1995), it is possible to single out 10 main causes, which lead to infant mortality. Among these causes Singh and Yu (1995) name the following problems with health: “congenital abnormalities, sudden infant death syndrome, prematurity and low birth weight, respiratory distress syndrome, complications of pregnancy, complications of placenta, cord and membranes, accidents, perinatal infections, pneumonia and influenza, intrauterine hypoxia and birth asphyxia” (p. 961).
At present time one of the major problems is low birth weight. According to the National Vital Statistics Report (2007), “birthweight and period of gestation are the two most important predictors of an infant’s subsequent health and survival” (Mathews, MacDorman 2007, p. 5). Low birthweight is considered to be one of the main reasons of infant mortality in the United States of America. In the course of the research is was found out that in 2004 more than half of infant deaths fell on newborn babies who weighed about 1000 grams.
Although everyone knows that low birthweight is rather dangerous for a newborn baby, it is crucial to discuss specific dangers that such babies will have to face during their first months after birth. First of all, it is essential to say that low birthweight babies have numerous complications with their health and development. For instance, among the most widespread problems it is necessary to name the following factors:
- difficulties with maintaining normal body temperature;
- problems with feeding and gaining normal weight;
- inability to fight various infections.
Apart from the mentioned above problems, doctors also speak about sudden infant death syndrome and problems with breathing, including respiratory distress syndrome.
However, it is crucial to remember that not only children with low birthweight may face a variety of health problems and other risk factors.
At present time one of the biggest problems faced by American society is sudden infant death syndrome. It is suggested that about 3 thousand babies are affected by this syndrome each year in America. Although this syndrome is a great danger for American population, it remains to be unexplained even after thorough investigations. It is considered that SIDS can affect a baby during the first year of his life, but more often it happens during 2-4th months of baby’s life. Unfortunately, among people I know, there was a case of infant death in a result of SIDS. The baby had low birth weight (1500 gram), he was the smallest among triplets, who were prematurely born.
Another risk factor, which is rather frequent among newborn babies and often leads to grievous consequences during the first year of a baby’s life, is injuries. A number of conducted studies prove that injuries refer to one of the most widespread reasons of death of children, who are younger than 1 year. Injuries can be caused by a variety of risk factors, including social and economic status of the family, violence and criminal involvement of parents, etc. All of the mentioned above factors are rather dangerous and there is a need to protect children who are more likely to suffer from such situations.
References
Bilheimer, L. (1992). Factors Contributing to the Infant Mortality Ranking of the United
States. CBO Staff Memorandum. Retrieved from http://www.cbo.gov
Green, J. (2006). U.S. has Second Worst Newborn Death Rate in the Modern World, Report
Says. CNN Health. Retrieved from http://articles.cnn.com
Mathews, T. J., MacDorman M. F. (2007). Infant Mortality Statistics from the 2004 Period
Linked Birth/Infant Death Data Set. National Vital Statistics Reports, Vol. 55.14: 1
32. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov
Singh, G. K., Yu, S. M. (1995). Infant Mortality in the United States: Trends, Differentials,
and Projections, 1950 through 2010. American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 85.7:
957-964. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Surles, K., Buescher, P. A., Meyer, R. (1999). Infant Mortality and Low Birthweight in North
Carolina: The Last 10 years. SCHS Studies No. 112. Retrieved from
http://www.epi.state.nc.us
