Black Infant Mortality Rate Higher

NEWSDAY ^ | 4/18/02

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Black infants in major U.S. cities are up to five times more likely than white infants to die in their first year of life, the government reported Thursday.

A 1995-98 study of the 60 largest U.S. cities found a median infant death rate of 13.9 deaths per 1,000 live births for blacks, compared with 6.4 for whites and 5.9 for Hispanics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Depending on the city, black infants were 1.4 to 4.8 times more likely than white infants to die in their first year, the CDC said.

[capitan_refugio]

I don't know the statistics, but I am willing to guess that the infant mortality rates (correlated by race) are proportional to the incidence of drug abuse by expectant mothers (correlated by race). This may very well be reflected in the comment toward the end of the article which dealt with "low birth weight."

Infant mortality rates will drop when there is a rise in personal responsibility on the part of expectant mothers.

[jigsaw]

Black Infant Mortality Rate Higher

Alternate Headline:   Grim Reaper A Racist

[NativeNewYorker]

How could such horror occur during the administration of America's first black president?

[pabianice]

Did anyone correlate this to the fact that, according to the USDOJ, black men under 60, composing about 5% of the US population, commit over 70% of the violent crime, including child abuse? Duh. Until the black community starts accepting responsibility for its sad state, black children will continue to be the largest victim population.

[scholar]

The CDC report is in line with previous studies that have found higher infant-mortality rates for black babies.

This is in no way intended as a racist statement, however I once had to report to the CDC re infant disease/mortality. These babies are born addicted to crack, other drugs or born with congenital veneral diseases.

So sad for the babies and too bad for the taxpayer who ultimately pays for the care and treatment of these little ones. If they live, they are frequently disabled for life.

[nmh]

<p.According to liberal logic, I suppose we'll have to have more white kids die to balance things out. That's the way these folks "think".

[scholar]

Too bad I didn't spell venereal correctly!

[Verginius Rufus]

Clearly more should be done to reduce the infant mortality rate, but it has been generally going down. A century ago the overall rate in the U.S. was similar to that of some of the poorest Third World countries of today.

For comparison's sake, the US rate in 1902 was 138 per 1000 (under one year). By 1940 that had dropped to 54.9 and by 1970 to 21.4.

Latest figures for some other countries:
Jamaica 14.16
Russia 20
Mexico 25.36
Red China 28
Dominican Republic 34.67
India 63
Nigeria 73.34
Pakistan 80.5
Haiti 95.23
Liberia 132.42
Afghanistan 147.

I suppose the authorities may tweak the numbers a bit so their country looks a little better.

[capitan_refugio]

I would tend to discount the "male violence" factor. I think I saw a recent stat that showed almost 2/3rds of all African-American births were to unwed mothers. Maybe there is a male (boyfriend) in the home, but I would not count on it.

[uncbob]

Health officials believe a mix of social, biological and environmental factors account for the racial disparity.

No kidding