The common assumption among people is that the U.S. death rate of poor children has increased dramatically in the past few years. However, a new study shows that the U.S. death rate for poor kids is declining and is actually approaching the mortality rate of wealthy children.
Mortality Rate of US Poor Children Is in Decline https://t.co/JD1moszXhz pic.twitter.com/hdQGLSnKPc
— ScienceDaily (@ScienceDaily) April 21, 2016
The study about the U.S. death rate decline among disadvantaged kids was conducted by researchers from the University of Zurich, Science Daily reports. The research team decided to study the death rates based on age groups in different U.S. counties instead of looking at the life expectancy at birth.
"It makes more sense to analyze the development of the individual age-specific mortality rates," University of Zurich study author Hannes Schwandt told Science Daily. "The youngest persons in the poorest regions are visibly benefiting most and fastest from welfare improvements while older people have a health history that is influenced by the past."
1913 typical infant mortality rate: 140 deaths per 1,000 births. 2016: 5 per thousand. What else do you miss? https://t.co/XfdbC8XjWi — LOLGOP (@LOLGOP) April 18, 2016
According to the 1990 U.S. death rate, 18 out of every 1,000 baby boys born in poor regions die before the age of 3. The death rate has dropped to about 10 out of every 1,000 baby boys by 2010.
In the wealthier regions, the figure has dropped from 10 babies in 1990 to approximately six babies in 2010. The researchers believe that the U.S. death rate for older people in poorer regions will also decline in the future. Janet Currie of Princeton University believes that some of the main reasons for the death rate decline among disadvantaged kids include the Medicaid program expansion and the establishment of the State Child Health Insurance Program, Reuters explains.
