francene--blog. Year 2013
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May 8th

5/8/2013

 
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en.wikipedia.org
The charity organization Save the Children found one million babies died each year on the day they enter the world, or two every minute, making the first day by far the riskiest day of a person's life in almost every country in the world. Hunger accounts for one third of child deaths.

These figures are shocking. Two newborns die every minute? Is this some mad way Mother Nature reduces human overpopulation to protect itself?

The risk of death for both mothers and babies remains the highest in developing nations. The world's toughest place to be a mother is the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The charity says we can end child and maternal mortality in our generation by using tried and tested interventions to stop mothers and babies being lost from what should be simple preventable causes. Find the link to Save the Children here.

I like the sound of simple, preventable causes. Of course, the charity needs money to carry out its plans.


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Mothers are at risk during pregnancy and birth too. The Mother's Index uses indicators of maternal health and under-five mortality, as well as women's education, income and political status.

With high teenage pregnancy and IVF pregnancy rates, the UK has a higher proportion of young and old mothers than much of Europe. Save the Children says another reason is poverty and inequality, as women with unemployed partners are six times more likely to die as a result of complications during pregnancy or childbirth.

The high teenage pregnancy is a contentious issue. Close to where I live, young woman plan their lives around their pregnancies. My husband used to drive a taxi and heard girls who were out for the evening at a club, talking about when to schedule their next pregnancy. The government supplies their own home and gives them money for each child. A woman need never do a thing but have a good time at pubs and parties as long as she produces a baby every now and then, to fund her lifestyle. These young women sit at coffee-houses and chat for hours with female friends in the same situation—something an old-age pensioner could never afford. Sigh. Step back and accept the laws of the land, which are in place to protect the children. Maybe they will change one day.


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www.thinkbaby
TOP 25 COUNTRIES
  • 1 Finland
  • 2 Sweden
  • 3 Norway
  • 4 Iceland
  • 5 The Netherlands
  • 6 Denmark
  • 7 Spain
  • 8 Belgium
  • 9 Germany
  • 10 Australia
  • 11 Austria
  • 12 Switzerland
  • 13 Portugal
  • 14 Slovenia
  • 15 Singapore
  • 16 France
  • 17 Italy
  • 18 New Zealand
  • 19 Greece
  • 20 Ireland
  • 21 Estonia
  • 22 Canada
  • 23 United Kingdom
  • 24 Czech Republic
  • 25 Israel
  • 30 USA
The survey found the US had by far the highest rate of first-day deaths among industrialized nations, more than twice the amount (11,300) of the entire EU (5,800).

This is another shock. The US & the UK are behind all these other countries in their quality of life for mothers and babies.


Tracy Shave link
5/7/2013 09:55:37 pm

Not sure I agree with you on the teenage pregnancy issue that you highlight here in your post - a few teenage girls going out (which is just as important for any mother, no matter how old) doesn't really warrant the judgement that they are all making babies to pay for that lifestyle. Many teenage mothers I have known have been far more responsible than some older mothers I have worked with... and were working. It's a shame that we judge people so easily here in the UK based on a select few, or on what the media wants us to believe... Believe me - teenage mums don't get half as much money as people think and it's not easy to get housed. :D Having lived with many teenage mothers when I became homeless after a housefire, while pregnant, I met many and they were all VERY different...

Francene Stanley link
5/8/2013 03:22:28 am

I'm so glad you've seen good in some young mothers. Unfortunately, the young mothers I speak of are the worst in the country. I'd like to see good mothers among them. I was a mother at 19, so I know they can be good mums.

Amy link
5/7/2013 10:08:42 pm

Francene,
It seems that if there's a way to milk the system, there are people who will do so. That chart is a shocker, though. Wow. Hard to believe that the US is clear down there at the bottom of the list for infant mortality.

Francene Stanley link
5/8/2013 03:24:27 am

I agree. Lucky some people take polls, otherwise we would never be aware of what is really happening.

Oceana link
5/8/2013 03:16:25 am

A fascinating read, I wonder on the statistics in all of the scenarios listed. I don't feel that the biggest problem in the US is due to unemployment or welfare, but rather the lack of natural birth support. Of course, this is only my opinion due to the many midwives I know personally and my own experience with how our medical system here treats birthing.

Francene Stanley link
5/8/2013 03:26:09 am

That's an interesting comment. I hadn't considered natural birthing as a factor.

Sarah link
5/8/2013 04:52:33 am

A hard one, I think the media these days is as much to blame, all we see and hear are those that try to take the mickey out of any benefit system, yet there are those that dread having to make a claim against the state. An interesting pause for thought though.

Francene Stanley link
5/8/2013 06:58:23 pm

The contrast between the givers and the takers of this world astounds me.

Jenn L link
5/8/2013 05:07:39 am

I completely agree with the natural birth assertion! Mother mortality rates are appalling, as well, here in the states. Our system is so broken.

Francene Stanley link
5/8/2013 07:02:01 pm

This is so sad. How could social systems like ours let mothers down?

Alana link
5/8/2013 11:05:21 am

Sadly, as an American, I am not surprised at all by the U.S. infant mortality statistics. Our health care system here is way past "broken".


Comments are closed.

    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

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