You may find it shocking to learn that the wealthiest nation in the world – the United States – has one of the highest infant mortality rates among industrialized nations, with 4.7 deaths per thousand live births, according to a new report.

Of course that’s a far cry from the rates in developing nations. In Liberia 65 newborns die for every 1,000 live births. But among developed nations, the U.S. rate is three times higher than that of Japan (1.8 per 1,000) and only slightly better than that of Latvia, a small country of 2 million nestled between Russia and the Baltic Sea, where the rate is 6 deaths per 1,000 births.

What’s going on?
Premature births and low birthweight are typical causes of newborn deaths in developed nations like the U.S., according to Save the Children’s “State of the World’s Mothers” report.

That’s quite different from causes in developing nations – tetanus, diarrhea and infection – where 99 percent of deaths occur.

In the U.S., minorities are at most risk, and the study found a correlation between low education and low socioeconomic status.
> A recent New York Times story summarizes the report’s take on what countries with low infant mortality rates are doing well.

The big picture
The report rams home that the first 24 hours of a newborn’s life are crucial – 2 million per year die in this period – and that 70 percent of deaths could be averted with simple items, like knit caps. Check out www.savethechildren.org for ideas on how to help.