
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 27, 1992                   TAG: 9203270057
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A10   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

U.S. INFANT MORTALITY RATE LAGGING

The United States hasn't kept up with other nations in assuring health care for young children and their mothers, a bipartisan federal commission reported Thursday.

As a result, babies die at a higher rate in the United States than in 21 other nations, the National Commission to Prevent Infant Mortality said.

"The United States' poor international standing indicates that we have not made the same commitment to our children as have other industrialized nations," the commission said.

"Our nation's mothers and children are in trouble," said Rae K. Grad, executive director of the commission. "Behind each and every number is tragedy and pain beyond our comprehension."

The United States ranks 22nd in the number of babies who die in the first year of life. Japan's rate, best in the world, is less than half the U.S. rate.

- Associated Press

by CNB