U.S. Newborn Survival Rate Ranks Low

The Save the Children Organization reported that among 33 industrialized nations, only Latvia is lower than the United States in survivial rate among newborns. Japan had the highest success rate.

Bonnie - as an intern at the March of Dimes many years ago, reducing the United States' high infant mortality rate was a priority. We provided a series of lunchtime lectures to corporations called "Babies and You." It was very successful and brought home the message that 90-95% of premature births and birth defects can be prevented with the mother and father's healthy diet and lifestyle.

Our health care system in the US is focusing on high tech services instead of spending money to provide free prevention services, such as prenatal counseling with a dietitian or public health nutritionist, especially in areas where the infant mortality rate is the highest. These results were not a surprise to me.