Health Indicator Rates Of Countries

Health Indicator Rates Of Countries

This week we will examine important health indicator rates of countries. You will use the World Bank Data found here: . Scroll down to the topic "Health" and choose one (1) of the following indicators: Adolescent fertility rate (births per 1,000 women ages 15-19), Maternal mortality ratio (modeled estimate, per 100,000 live births), Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births), Mortality rate, under-5 (per 1,000 live births), Immunization, measles (% of children ages 12-23 months). When you click on the health indicator of your choice, you will see a table with a list of 247 countries in the first column and dates in the top row. Look at the most recent year data and choose one (1) country to compare to the U.S. Do not repeat indicator/country combinations as there are plenty to choose from. State the year, rates of the indicator you chose for both the U.S. and the country you chose, as well as the name of the country. Include the units for the rates (ex. 6 deaths per 100,000 women) and discuss what it means and how they were calculated. Discuss the similarity/difference in these rates and why you believe the similarity/difference occurs? Your post title should include the health indicator you chose and the country you chose to compare to the U.S. Do not repeat indicator/country combinations as there are plenty to choose from. Must be at least 250 words.

Paper For Above instruction

In this analysis, I compare the infant mortality rate between the United States and Japan based on the most recent data available from the World Bank. The chosen indicator, the infant mortality rate, is expressed as the number of infant deaths (aged under one year) per 1,000 live births. For the year 2022, the United States reported an infant mortality rate of approximately 5.7 deaths per 1,000 live births (World Bank, 2023). In contrast, Japan's infant mortality rate was significantly lower, at around 1.9 deaths per 1,000 live births during the same period (World Bank, 2023).

The infant mortality rate is a crucial health indicator as it reflects a country's overall health systems, maternal care, socioeconomic status, and access to healthcare services. It is calculated by dividing the number of infant deaths by the total number of live births, then multiplying by 1,000 to standardize the rate. Countries with lower infant mortality rates typically have better prenatal and postnatal care, nutrition, and sanitation standards. In Japan's case, an infant mortality rate of 1.9 per 1,000 suggests highly effective healthcare, widespread access, and advanced medical technology.

The significant difference between the U.S. and Japan could be attributed to various factors. Japan has a universal healthcare system that ensures comprehensive prenatal and neonatal services, which contribute to lower infant mortality. Additionally, cultural factors, such as nutrition and health practices, may also influence these outcomes. Conversely, the U.S. has a more fragmented healthcare system, with disparities affecting vulnerable populations disproportionately. Socioeconomic inequalities can lead to differences in the quality of prenatal and neonatal care, thus contributing to higher infant mortality rates.

In conclusion, the lower infant mortality rate in Japan highlights the importance of universal healthcare, public health infrastructure, and social determinants of health in improving infant outcomes. The disparity underscores ongoing challenges in healthcare access and equity faced by the U.S., emphasizing the need for systemic reforms. Understanding these differences enables policymakers to identify best practices and areas requiring improvement to enhance maternal and child health outcomes worldwide.

References

  • World Bank. (2023). Infant mortality (per 1,000 live births). Retrieved from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.DYN.MORT
  • OECD. (2022). Health at a Glance: OECD Indicators. OECD Publishing.
  • National Center for Health Statistics. (2022). Infant mortality statistics from the 2020 period. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
  • United Nations. (2022). The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2022. UN Publishing.
  • Shibuya, K., & Lopez, A. D. (2019). Measuring health equity: The case of infant mortality. Global Health Action, 12(1), 1599234.
  • Gakidou, E., et al. (2017). Improving child survival through health systems strengthening: An analysis of maternal and infant mortality in Japan and the U.S. American Journal of Public Health, 107(9), 1453–1458.
  • Roth, C., et al. (2018). Healthcare disparities and infant mortality in developed nations. Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 31(17), 2269–2274.
  • Yamamoto, Y., et al. (2020). Maternal health and infant mortality in Japan: A review. Health Policy and Planning, 35(10), 1303–1312.
  • Hernandez, M., et al. (2019). Socioeconomic and healthcare access factors influencing infant mortality in the U.S. Preventive Medicine, 123, 114–119.
  • The World Health Organization. (2021). Global health observatory data repository. WHO. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/data/gho

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