Why does America have the worst infant mortality rate of any "industrialized" nation on earth?

Answer 1

There are two competing explanations.
1) Our statistics are distorted by how we measure infant mortality. We include still births as death in the first year of life while some other countries do not.
2) Our poor are poorer than the poor in other developed countries and receive fewer services, especially in rural areas.
I think both probably account for the numbers.

Edit: Here is a graph of infant mortality vs % of blacks in the population.
http://www.statemaster.com/plot/hea_inf_dea_rat/peo_tot_bla_pop_percap/flag
It controdict the Idea that having a high % of blacks in the population is sufficient to predict high infant morality. The high rates are concentrated in the south east. see map
http://www.statemaster.com/red/graph/hea_inf_dea_rat-health-infant-death-rate&b_map=1

Answer 2

"some nations ranked high in part because they offer free health services for pregnant women and babies, while the United States suffers from disparities in access to health care."

"33 percent of all low-birthweight babies were African-American"

African American women suffer the highest infant mortality rate.

Answer 3

Your question assumes the cause is poor medical care , when in fact , here`s your sign`s ; Crackhead mothers , Alcoholic mothers , Meth mothers , Abusive parents that kill their own infants , basically you have a no moral responsibility society backed up by the "feel good political correctness conscience " that tell`s people that there is no wrong in their actions !!

Answer 4

We need better education and health care. We also need parents to start doing their job. Why so many teen pregnancies? I want better government programs,but at the same time people need to start using some common sense.

Answer 5

The lack of socialized medicine.