Infant Mortality Rates of Europe, Research Paper Example

Infant mortality is a social issue which can be attributed to a number of causes. Among the most evident ones are social and individual negligence, poverty and economic instability. This problem is still being raised in more than half of the world’s countries, regardless of the fact that the subject of overpopulation is also of the primary social concern nowadays. In this paper, a look will be taken at the European countries and their relatedness to the above problem, as well as the countries’ standards of living will be discussed in relation to high infant mortality rates.

According to the enclosed map, such countries as Bulgaria, Albania and Bosnia & Herzegovina are among those countries experiencing the highest infant mortality rates in Europe. This group of countries belongs to the so-called “developing” ones, meaning that their economic, political, social and democratic fields are still at the stage of formation and adaptation to the contemporary world’s requirements, stated by the “developed” countries. In other worlds, the countries are experiencing difficulties in various fields of development, which consequently opens a wide horizon of problems to be solved and measures to be taken. The reasons for high infant mortality rates may be different in all of the three countries. It can be political and economic instability as a result of a separatist movement as in Albania or economic unawareness which resulted from a long-term independence building period after the break up of Yugoslavia as in Bosnia & Herzegovina. Whatever the reasons are, the main point is that such high rates present a number of conclusions about the people living in these countries as well as about the national standards of living.

The first inference that may be derived in the above situation is that countries’ national health systems need improvement. All over the world governments understand that health is one of the fields that need constant budgeting and investment, as it is supposed to ensure the well-being of the whole nation. A well constructed health system is one of the most important components of ensuring a high national standard of living. It can be defined as some kind of a guarantee that provides all the required medical support, including all the medicines and equipment as well as medical personnel’s awareness and care.  When talking specifically about infants, one should keep in mind that pregnant women require constant and close supervision. Otherwise, doctors are not able to screen and diagnose potentially serious medical problems that if untreated, may result in birth defects and infant death (Cooper, 1992). In the case of the discussed countries, it is evident that pregnant women are not able to receive all the required care in the medical facilities which is undoubtedly one of the causes for such high numbers of infant deaths.

Another inference from the high infant mortality rate is parental negligence and unawareness, which may as well be the result of the low standard of living. Under such circumstances grown-ups are more concerned with family’s financial state than with informational acknowledgements for their children.  Moreover, some women keep up with the bad habits of smoking, alcohol abuse and drug addiction while carrying a child, all of which may be the causes for infant lung or heart failure, defects or genetic changes, resulting in infant’s death. In countries, where governments ensure higher living standards for the citizens, social awareness is encouraged through social advertisement and medical counseling which is available for every pregnant woman. It helps a woman to understand that a child inside of her is helpless and she is the one being responsible for her every action as it effects the child as well. However, it can be probably concluded from the above data, that in the discussed countries such methods are seldom taken or are not emphasized as much, as there are other more important economic and political issues which should be discussed first. Hopefully, after having solved them, governments will be able to ensure more infants to stay alive in this world.

The last inference that may be discussed in reference to high infant mortality rates is the problem of poverty and social inequity. As all of us would agree – better health is associated with higher income (Cameron, 2009). And higher income is the subject of the high standard of living. Nowadays, richer people are able to receive all kind of medical service out there, while poor people have to figure out their own ways of keeping their health. In case of pregnancy, this can also be the cause of infant death when pregnant women with low income are unable to provide all the medical support for themselves and their yet unborn children. In this case, one of the primary government’s duties is to distribute financial and medical support for pregnant women fairly. Not only will it provide an increased birth rate, but will probably result in healthier children being born.

In conclusion, it is evident that the standard of living does have a great influence on human life and in the case of infant morality it appears to be one of the most important determinants resulting in the individual’s birth and death. Having examined the birth rates of the three European countries with the highest infant mortality rates, a suggestion can be made that if government authorities and individuals take action towards improving the national standards of living, not only will it decrease the infant mortality rate, but will enable thousands of children to be born healthy and prosperous. An increased birth rate will allow are bigger amount of labor force to be formed, resulting in economic benefits for the country.

References

Cooper, M. H. (1992, July 31). Infant Mortality. CQ Researcher, 2, 641-664. Retrieved May   19, 2009, from CQ Researcher Online http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1992073100

Lisa Cameron,  Jenny Williams. (2009). Is the Relationship Between Socioeconomic Status and Health Stronger for Older Children in Developing Countries?. Demography, 46(2), 303-324.  Retrieved May 19, 2009, from ProQuest Medical Library database. (Document ID: 1692562681)