Suffer the little children. Poverty's blight taints new life--and out country's future.
Socioeconomic patterns that compromise the ability of some to obtain adequate housing, education, resources, and healthcare are putting the health of our children, and the future of our nation, at risk. Our children and their health must become a national priority. A look at some major health indicators reveals an alarming picture of children's healthcare in this country. For instance, prenatal care is important to an uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery of a healthy baby. Since the late 1970s, however, no significant reduction has occurred in the percentage of pregnant women receiving only late care or no prenatal care at all. Child abuse is a significant health indicator, since it probably will result in physical disfigurement and disability, not to mention profound psychosocial disturbances. Despite increased recognition and reporting of child abuse, funds and services to treat the victims have not kept pace. Preventable injury in the home and on the road is one health indicator that has improved during the past 10 years, but injuries are still the leading cause of death among children under the age of one, and motor vehicle accidents are still the leading cause of death among children between the ages of 1 and 14. Many low-birthweight infants who once would have died are now surviving, primarily because of modern medical technology, but the cost of their care usually far exceeds the resources of most families.
D002388:Catastrophic Illness / Q000191:economics; D002410:Catholicism; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006285:Health Planning; D006292:Health Priorities; D006744:Hospital Bed Capacity, 100 to 299; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008923:Missouri; D011203:Poverty; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States