North America's premature birth rate second to Africa's

13 million premature births worldwide, 1 million deaths
October 4, 2009

At least 13 million infants are born prematurely each year globally and more than a million of them die, according to a new paper released today by the March of Dimes. Africa has the highest rate of premature births, at 11.9%, but the United States is close behind at 10.6%. Europe has the lowest rate at 6.2%, according to the paper, which was to be released today in New Delhi at the start of the 4th International Conference on Birth Defects and Disabilities in the Developing World.

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Researchers are not sure of all the causes of premature birth. In the United States, one cause is Cesarean sections, which are now the most common surgical procedure for women. Other causes include the increased number of pregnancies among women over age 35; assisted reproduction techniques with the implantation of multiple embryos; poor nutrition and low bodyweight; pre-existing medical conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure; and alcohol and tobacco use and secondhand smoke.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2009/10/13-million-premature-births-worldwide-1-million-deths.html

In other countries Preemies die. In the USA they are born, most survive, and then thanks to our outstanding hospitals they later thrive and go home as beautiful babies. Thank God for that. Early births are not caused by the hospitals or doctors. I suspect it has more to do with the Lifestyles and Diet of the baby's mother.

You may remember that wonderful John Edwards (D) health care attorney that sued doctors and their insurance companies to his own great richness gets much of the credit for doctors early birthing babies via c sections. Why do doctors now deliver via c-sections? Less trauma on the baby and mother, fewer lawsuits.

Thanks to advanced American health care, deep pockets of insurance companies that tort Lawyers gleefully sue many babies are needlessly delivered early. Thank John Edwards for that.

Or if you think our health care system is so bad, just go to Africa or Cuba. I'm sure they both would welcome your American dollars and give you the finest care they have to offer. Personally, I think I'll stay here. I won't trade places with Europe either. Your experience may be different.

I'm sure you've been here before and will be here again

what you think that other places in the world do not take care of premature births?

Here is some more kool aid...

By the way, this may come as a surprise to you, but I was born a premie... not in the US... and I made it.

with your idiotic and hateful post.

but they are not equitably spent in the least. Your user name is ironic, though it's quite obvious you are not here to add anything constructive. Enjoy your stay.

The US has some of the world's greatest hospitals and best skilled doctors. Few would argue that. But it's also impossible for those like you that would prefer to sing lalalala with fingers in your ear to dispute that with 50+ million uninsured people, we have a LOT of women with very poor access to prenatal care - a huge variable in causing premature births.

Look, too many studies have been done showing our infant mortality rates to be shamefully high as well so there is something wrong. Deny that if you want and blame it on John Edwards if that makes you happy. But that's not the crux of the problem. The real problem is that for profit insurance is a scam and the only incentive to actually pay claims is that a person is alive long enough to pay premiums. The moment that person requires expensive treatment, it may be cheaper to bail.

If you want to argue about medical malpractice suites and tort reform, that is a worthwhile topic to discuss and I would figure that any system which would result in lower salaries for doctors should also provide lower malpractice insurance rates and result in significantly lower student debt(med school debt in the US is probably the highest in the world). Tort reform should be in the mix then, though it's important to keep negligent and incompetant doctors accountable.

:dunce:

Wouldn't you know, I just finished dinner. Otherwise, I'd be hungry for pizza. :eyes:

n/t

:sarcasm:

Sorry,

By the way the consequences last for the lifetime of the baby...

Would be useful to see that. People in the US and Canada have similar lifestyles, so breaking that down would make it more clear about the healthcare aspect.

I'm confused...

If we accept that some people are taking stupid risks with both their own health and happiness and that of their potential future offspring in getting pregnant, and stop encouraging that sort of behavior as special and brave instead of dangerous and dumb, we can do a hell of a lot to reduce the risk of premature birth.

Medically, discouraging overuse of c-sections and inductions would really do a lot.