Evaluated 108 mothers and their newborn babies for bacterial colonization and neonatal septicemia (NNS) after membranes had ruptured for 24 hours or more. Nearly 40% of the babies were already colonized at birth. The three most common bacteria isolated from the babies were Escherichia coli, Group B Streptococcus, and Streptococcus faecalis. (MDM)

This study examined a wide range of literature in order to describe factors associated with the concept of infant health. The design of the study is a literature review examining 21 research studies, written in the English language. The study explored which factors were found to exert an influence on the concept of infant health. The result showed…

Context: Pregnant women in rural areas may give birth in either rural or urban hospitals. Differences in outcomes between rural and urban hospitals may influence patient decision making. Purpose: Trends in rural and urban obstetric deliveries and neonatal and maternal mortality in California were compared to inform policy development and patient…

Three major components have been repeatedly implicated for the origin(s) of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS): system, minor sickness and surroundings. All these factors also frame infant temperament, and therefore it seems logical to suppose that the babies who either succumb to or are at risk of SIDS may present with certain behavioral…

This booklet is a report of the health status and service needs of America's children. It presents a summary of sentinel health measures reflecting both what has been accomplished and what challenges remain. The first section describes the general population to provide a context for health measures. In the second section, selected health status…

This document presents mortality statistics for 1985 for the entire United States. Data analysis and discussion of these factors is included: death and death rates; death rates by age, sex, and race; expectation of life at birth and at specified ages; causes of death; infant mortality; and maternal mortality. Highlights reported include: (1) the…

This speech sketches a picture of post-natal health care in the United States, circa 1979. Between 1970 and 1976, post-natal infant deaths in the first week after birth dropped 32%. During the same period, the post-neonatal decline was just 12%. Statistics are presented which highlight areas of concern. Variation across states, high incidence in…

This article addresses the issue of national health care. Neither Medicare nor Medicaid equitably meet the health needs of the entire population. The author suggests criteria which must be met by a national health program if it is to eliminate inequalities in costs, access to services and quality of care. (GC)

Bemoans the failure of the social work profession to claim infant mortality as a professional priority in spite of evidence of the appropriateness of social work interventions. Stresses social work's role in the reduction of preventable infant deaths. (Author/KS)

Examines Black health status from the slavery period to the present, discusses health status disparities between Blacks and Whites in the areas of life expectancy and infant mortality, and considers socioeconomic factors affecting Black health status. (Author/GC)

Lists Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries with corresponding data on: area; agricultural area; population; labor force; unemployment rate; civilian employment; gross domestic produce; currency; imports; exports; consumer prices; industrial production change for 1983; infant mortality; public expenditure…

The fathers studied appeared to have identifiable patterns of behavior which were more peculiar to men than to women, including feelings of diminished self-worth, the necessity to keep busy with increased work, self-blame because of lack of care involvement, and a limited ability to ask for help. Journal Availability: American Academy of…

Discusses increasing racial and socioeconomic disparities in mortality despite general declines in mortality, examining disparities in infant mortality and explaining that whenever two groups differ in their susceptibility to some condition, the less prevalent the condition, the greater will be the disparity in rates of experiencing the condition.…

Relates the origin and aims of the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) begun in 1972. It has failed to improve the health of newborn children or lower the infant mortality rate, because these problems relate to behavior rather than lack of food. Prenatal care and medical intervention are more appropriate…

As implemented in Boston, the federal Healthy Start Initiative aimed at reducing infant mortality revealed the following: (1) conflict is inherent in a federal program that also calls for community participation and control; (2) trust among community-based partners is essential; and (3) meaningful input from community members is necessary if…