You know what I find weird about the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s story on infant mortality?

February 16th, 2009

The story never once says what they’re dying from.

Is it starvation? Neglect? Abuse? Disease? Low birth rate? Addictions? What?

The things the story does mention as contributing factors…

“racism, cialis sale purchase segregation, viagra unemployment, check inadequate housing, education, urban stress, teen pregnancy and even the sense of hopelessness pervasive in many African-American neighborhoods”

…certainly aren’t the proximate causes.

Racism? The KKK isn’t beating children to death in their cribs.

Segregation? Are African-American infants being turned away from white hospitals?

I’m not dismissing the relevance of such contributing factors, but don’t we need to understand exactly why these babies are dying before we can try to save their little lives?

Entry Filed under: Observations

3 Comments Add your own

  • 1. BobG  |  February 16th, 2009 at 4:10 pm

    “don’t we need to understand exactly why these babies are dying before we can try to save their little lives? ”

    Judging from what I see in the news, it is mainly from beatings and neglect.

  • 2. Elliot  |  February 16th, 2009 at 4:11 pm

    I’m not sure that’s true, Bob. But the problem is I don’t KNOW because the Journal Sentinel didn’t tell me.

  • 3. Mixter  |  February 17th, 2009 at 9:25 am

    My guess would be that it’s due to lack of or improper prenatal care, but it sure would have been nice to see what the medical profession had to say about it.

    Mixter

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