The infant mortality rate and pregnancy outcomes in the United States are among the lowest in the developed world. Various health organizations, the March of Dimes and researchers have been focusing on finding answers to improve the health of mothers and babies in the US. RTI Research Institute has recently announced targeted recommendations for improving pregnancy outcomes in the country.
One of the recurring themes in research into infant mortality shows that minority and poor mothers are disproportionately affected by problems leading to preterm birth and health care. In fact, the infant mortality rate for African American mothers is nearly twice that of white mothers. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the infant mortality rate for white women is 6.9 per 1,000 and for African American mothers, the number is 13.7 per 1,000.
Researchers at institutes around the country have examined these differences in an attempt to find ways to close the gap and improve the health of all babies. Scientists have isolated several factors that are known to influence the outcome of pregnancy. The hope is that using this information, the medical community can reach out to mothers and babies in order to ensure a healthy birth for a larger percentage of our babies as a whole and to close the racial and economic gap in pregnancy outcomes.
There are many hurdles for minority women from lack of access to health care and lack of money to maintain a healthy diet and lack of a safe and healthy environment. The uninsured to get Medicaid, but are often sitting for long periods of time in clinics waiting for prenatal care. Some can’t wait and miss appointments, get spotty prenatal care and may not get a quick diagnosis for complications, which reduces the chance of a healthy outcome.
Another factor researchers have considered is access to the right care when babies are born too soon or with complications. Unfortunately, in America health care is not created equally. Hospitals in poor neighborhoods are often understaffed and without a neonatal intensive care unit. The presence of a NICU improves the outcome for preterm infants. With greater access to lifesaving medical care, more babies might be saved.
Researchers at RTI and the March of Dimes are advocating greater patient education and increased prenatal and neonatal screening. These steps could help identify more mothers and babies at risk. When women at risk are identified, medical professionals would be able to intervene sooner and help increase the outcome.
Related Articles:
US Infant Mortality Rate Climbing
Lowering Risk of Complications for Diabetic Women