Leftists like to bad-mouth our beloved United States and its lack of a universal healthcare regime, using one statistic that they say typifies the whole miserable situation: Infant Mortality. (Average age at death is another one - subject of another thread, perhaps)
Civilized countries - those with national healthcare, have infant mortality rates in the mid-to-high fours, per thousand live births. The UK is 4, Canada is 4.2., and most of Europe is in the same neighborhood. The Gold Standard - Germany - is 2.7 or so.
But a closer look at the U.S. reveals dramatic differences among the "races."
www.statista.com
For "white" people, the infant mortality rate is 4.6. Interestingly, for Hispanics, whose economic (and health insurance coverage) circumstances are comparable to American Blacks, the rate is 4.8. But for African Americans, it is a relative disaster at 10.75 - which drives the aggregate U.S. average up to unacceptable levels. One would think that the number of uninsured Blacks is very comparable to the rate for Hispanics; the number on Medicaid, and the number of conventionally insured (through employers) should also be comparable between Blacks and Hispanics.
These stats BEG the question, what the hell is going on with American Blacks? Is there something about Black culture that does not support pregnant women? Do pregnant Black women decline to seek prenatal checkups, etc.? Are pregnant Black women more likely to be the only adult in the household, thus losing the opportunities for in-house support - driving to doctor offices and so forth? Are Black women less likely to seek out medical support during pregnancy?
Inquiring minds would like to know.
Civilized countries - those with national healthcare, have infant mortality rates in the mid-to-high fours, per thousand live births. The UK is 4, Canada is 4.2., and most of Europe is in the same neighborhood. The Gold Standard - Germany - is 2.7 or so.
But a closer look at the U.S. reveals dramatic differences among the "races."
Infant mortality rate in the U.S. by race/ethnicity | Statista
In both 2020 and 2021, the children of Black mothers in the United States had the highest infant mortality rate, at just over 10 deaths per 1,000 live births.
www.statista.com
For "white" people, the infant mortality rate is 4.6. Interestingly, for Hispanics, whose economic (and health insurance coverage) circumstances are comparable to American Blacks, the rate is 4.8. But for African Americans, it is a relative disaster at 10.75 - which drives the aggregate U.S. average up to unacceptable levels. One would think that the number of uninsured Blacks is very comparable to the rate for Hispanics; the number on Medicaid, and the number of conventionally insured (through employers) should also be comparable between Blacks and Hispanics.
These stats BEG the question, what the hell is going on with American Blacks? Is there something about Black culture that does not support pregnant women? Do pregnant Black women decline to seek prenatal checkups, etc.? Are pregnant Black women more likely to be the only adult in the household, thus losing the opportunities for in-house support - driving to doctor offices and so forth? Are Black women less likely to seek out medical support during pregnancy?
Inquiring minds would like to know.
