What we can learn from the British maternal child health system.
Infants born in Great Britain have a better chance of living until their first birthdays than do infants born in the United States. Although Great Britain spends less than half what the United States spends on healthcare, its estimated infant mortality rate was 5.5 as compared to 6.8 in the United States in 2001 (Central Intelligence Agency [CIA], 2001). What is different about healthcare in Great Britain? This article details some of the differences, suggesting that there are ways the United States can improve its infant mortality rates.
Bradley
Patricia J
PJ
Texas Christian University, TCU Box 298620, Fort Worth, TX 76219, USA. p.bradley@tcu.edu
Bray
Katherine Helsing
KH
D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D016389:Maternal-Child Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D009721:Nurse Midwives / Q000458:organization & administration; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration; D024802:Nurse's Role; D011247:Pregnancy; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology