AmnestyInternational: In the U.S., Too Many Women Dying While Having Babies

Time ^ | Friday March 12th 2010 | JENNIFER BLOCK

[Cardhu]

Amnesty International may be best known to American audiences for bringing to light horror stories overseas such as the disappearance of political activists in Argentina or the abysmal conditions inside South African prisons under apartheid. But in a new report on pregnancy and childbirth care in the U.S., Amnesty details the maternal health care crisis in this country as part of a systemic violation of women's rights.

The report, titled "Deadly Delivery," notes that the likelihood of a woman dying in childbirth in the U.S. is five times greater than in Greece, four times greater than in Germany, and three times greater than in Spain. Every day in the U.S., more than two women die of pregnancy-related causes, with the maternal mortality ratio doubling from 6.6 deaths per 100,000 births in 1987 to 13.3 deaths per 100,000 births in 2006. (And as shocking as these figures are, Amnesty notes that the actual number of maternal deaths in the U.S. may be a lot higher since there are no federal requirements to report these outcomes and since data collection at the state and local levels needs to be improved.) "In the U.S., we spend more than any country on health care, yet American women are at greater risk of dying from pregnancy-related causes than in 40 other countries," says Nan Strauss, the report's co-author, who spent two years investigating the issue of maternal mortality worldwide. "We thought that was scandalous." (See the most common hospital mishaps.)

[Abathar]

I agree with what you posted, except about the early teens part.

Humans up until just recently always had their kids in the teenage years, our bodies are far more flexible and capable of it then.

A sixteen or seventeen year old woman is far more likely to have a safer pregnancy than a 35 year old is.

[theDentist]

In truth, 1 mother dying in childbirth is too many.. However, it’s the real world, and it happens. So AI can go FO.

[huldah1776]

I would trust Amnesty International’s numbers like I trust my Bible./sarc

Every day in the U.S., more than two women die of pregnancy-related causes, with the maternal mortality ratio doubling from 6.6 deaths per 100,000 births in 1987 to 13.3 deaths per 100,000 births in 2006. (And as shocking as these figures are, Amnesty notes that the actual number of maternal deaths in the U.S. may be a lot higher since there are no federal requirements to report these outcomes and since data collection at the state and local levels needs to be improved.)

Obesity, no prenatal care for illegals who show up to have their baby. They’ll cry about no actual numbers for birth related deaths but they won’t cry for actual numbers of abortion related deaths, and you will never hear about how having a child is good for you, especially with all the joy and love that is produced watching their shenanigans.

[newfreep]

Yes. Really!

This article is total BS and just another attempt to validate the failed Euro-socialism.

In America, we don't want no steenkin' socialism. We want our individual freedom as defined in our Constitution.

MAO-bam is a communist. Deal with it!

[proud American in Canada]

“I’m calling BULLSHIT on this one.”

__________________________________________

You and me both. I don’t believe this for a minute.

Saying this as one who, having moved to Canada for her husband 10 years ago, dearly misses American health care.

[CholeraJoe]

They need to do things like eat a good diet, take prenatal vitamins to lessen the possibility of certain congenital problems in their babies, and be watched for early signs of complications, such as high blood pressure, fluid retention, etc.

You forgot, "Not smoke, drink, and use drugs."

[Gay State Conservative]

"Every day in the U.S., more than two women die of pregnancy-related causes"

Wow! In a country of 300,000,000 people *only* 2.4 women die of pregnancy related causes each day.My guess is that more than that die each day from stubbed toes.And of those 2.4 women,how many of them had,the day before,entered this country illegally from Mexico,Guatemala,Nigeria,etc? And how many of them were junkies who has access to good pre-natal care but couldn't be bothered to take advantage because they were "just too busy"?

[Woodman]

Note how they state “A woman dying in childbirth”, but don't specify they number of pregnancies/births to females. They do give the rate against live births, but not when that make the first statement. Reproductive rates are very low in the European countries they name, so it feels like the statement is rigged.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

“Some people choose to drink, smoke and do drugs during their pregnancy.”

Exactly. If women are dying during childbirth in this country it's not because the OBs don't know what they're doing. Show me a statistic that seems to demonstrate inferior care in the US, and I'll show you why the opposite is true and why the statistic cited is BS. In the US we have freedom, which means people who are at high risk for pregnancy related complications can choose to become pregnant anyway. People can choose lifestyles etc. that put them and their baby at risk.

Also anytime you see statistics from socialist countries ask yourself whether or not you can trust those statistics.

[Servant of the Cross]

AI - You Lie!

[chainsaw]

AmnestyInternational: In the U.S., Too Many Women Dying While Having Babies

If true, too many OB doctors getting out of the delivery business because they cannot afford the malpractice inurance. Thank our attorney/legal system for that.

[Biggirl]

My, my, some JEALOUS folks who treat the US healthcare system with some dislike. If the US healthcare system is SO BAD, why do folks like a Canadian PM come to Miami FL, for heart surgery?

[Biggirl]

Tort issues is why we have this Obamcare mess to begin with.

[Le Chien Rouge]

‘The report notes that black women in the U.S. are nearly four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women’

Compare the stats between black women and white women:

1) the diet during pregnancy.
2) weight gain and the stress it places on the heart
3) exercise during pregnancy
4) one group(black) that is probably on medicare and one group(white) that probably is on private plans
5) white women probably are more emotionally supported by their husbands.......blacks have an extremely high out of wedlock pregnancies.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

“Anchor babies.” — CholeraJoe

Right. Safe borders would help curb this. So, do McCainiac and Nancy Grahamnesty want to curb pregnancy deaths? Secure the borders!

Save a baby — weaken McCain.

Adding this thread to:
Hayworth vs. McCain — Primary Headline Roundup
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2456305/posts?page=105

[antisocial]

“Some people choose to drink, smoke and do drugs during their pregnancy. When the outcome is bad they want to blame someone else.”

Also lots of women wait until they are over 40 to have their first child, that is added risk.

[exDemMom]

1) Where did AI get their numbers?

2) As pointed out already, there are many factors that contribute to bad outcomes. I’m willing to bet that the illegal border crossers, sneaking into the US to have their anchor babies after having had NO prenatal care (and possibly, no medical care ever), and subjecting themselves to the strain of crossing, have a fairly high mortality rate.

3) I think the new age trends such as having home deliveries probably increases the rate, too. Some of those New Agers choose NOT to have any kind of prenatal care.

4) The role of abortion cannot be overlooked. Although the only figures I’ve seen relate to fetal death rate, a past abortion is as risky to a fetus as smoking during pregnancy. I wouldn’t be surprised if that also translates to a higher maternal death rate.

Unless there is an immediately life-threatening pregnancy complication (e.g. ectopic pregnancy), child birth is always safer for the mother than abortion. It’s infinitely safer for the baby...

[ClaudiusI]

Is that supposed to be a part near the end where they ask which one has the lotion?

[DontTreadOnMe2009]

The report, titled "Deadly Delivery," notes that the likelihood of a woman dying in childbirth in the U.S. is five times greater than in Greece, four times greater than in Germany, and three times greater than in Spain. Laughable.

[DontTreadOnMe2009]

Every day in the US, illegal aliens murder or injure
more than 100 Americans, and they rape more than 50
American children per day.

Where is NOW, Amnesty International or the drunk US Congress?

Where is the reporting? The outrage?