The subject of infant mortality is one of depression, but one of those topics that must be dealt with. Although the rate of infant mortalities in the United States has declined, it is still a problem. With the advancements in technology and medical fields, there should be a more dramatic decrease. The most influential factors in infant mortality are high-risk pregnancies and socioeconomic status. In my opinion, almost all infant deaths are a result or can be related to the two.
High-risk pregnancies often result in low birth weight or premature babies. Babies that are born before 37 weeks gestation are considered premature. Premature babies have a difficult time adjusting to their new surroundings and often spend many days if not weeks or months in intensive care units. Pregnancies are considered high risk for many reasons. Some key contributors:
* Mother's age. Teen pregnancy is not only a growing epidemic in the United States, but also other countries.
World infant mortality rates in 2008. source data
English: Infant mortality rates in the United Stat...
Infant mortality rate world mapThe body of a teen is not ready for stress associated with pregnancy. I was 15 when I had my first son, and had many complications. To put it short, my organs and body had not fully developed.
* Health of the mother before conception. Of course, if the mother is not healthy before conception it will affect the pregnancy. This is also true for prenatal care. Mothers who are not in the best of health tend to ignore the importance of prenatal care and vitamins.
* Exposure to cigarette smoke, drugs and alcohol. There is much controversy over this topic. My mother was a smoker and believed it did not affect either of her children. We were both born of healthy sizes and no complications. There has been plenty research to support evidence in abnormalities associated with drugs and alcohol.