US Has Highest First-Day Death Rate for Babies Among Industrialized Countries

The United States is not a great place for newborn babies—in fact it’s the worst place in the industrialized portion of the world, according to ABC News. The

11,000 babies born in the United States die in their first day on earth. This is 50 percent more than any other industrialized country in the world—combined. The information was found in the 14^th annual State of the World’s Mothers report from Save the Children.

There are few reasons for the rate of deaths:

· High pre-term birth rate

· Largest amount of teens giving birth compared to other industrialized nations

· Babies born from teens have a higher chance of being premature and being born at a lesser weight

Solutions to this issue include having young girls stay in school and ensuring every mother and newborn can easily get health care.

The report also says the amount of children dying around the world has decreased since 1970. In Latin American countries, newborn and maternal death rates have dropped. Certain methods have been taught to mothers in order to ensure safer birthing practices.

For example, umbilical cords must be cleaned to prevent infection. The administration of vitamin supplement and breast feeding are also ways to make sure newborn do not die.

According to Save the Children, over one million babies could be saved each year if mothers and babies could access resuscitation to save babies not breathing once they are born, steroid injections to stop preterm labor, antiseptic to cleanse umbilical cords and antibiotics that can be injected into newborns to treat sepsis and pneumonia. Six dollars is the cost of the most expensive of these methods.

"The birth of a child should be a time of wonder and celebration," the introduction to the report says. "But for millions of mothers and babies in developing countries, it is a dance with death."

A copy of the report can be viewed here.