Gap minder makes it evident that there is an inverse relationship between income per person and infant mortality rates. This graph shows that as income increases, infant mortality rates decrease. When families and countries as a whole have more money to spend on things like health care, proper tools for giving birth, as well as sanitary hospitals these children will live longer as a result. This is a concern because in less developed countries where income rates are not as high, infant mortality rates are significantly high. For this reason, families in these more poor countries will have more children as they are anticipating some of their children to not make it into adulthood. This could lead to lower female life expectancies in less developed countries because the amount of children they are bearing will eventually take a toll on their bodies.
www.bit.ly/QuYe3A : link to graph
This is very interesting! it makes sense that with an increase in income that there would be more access to better health care, and housing leading to a decrease in mortality rate as the income increases.
ReplyDeleteIts crazy how much of an impact income can have on the mortality rates of children. Money definitely comes into play when it comes to kids survival.
ReplyDeleteI am not surprised that there is a definite correlation between a nation's wealth and infant mortality rates - having the ability to afford proper healthcare is definitely significant in the reduction of infant deaths! I really liked how you highlighted your concerns about healthcare and the suggestion that a high infant mortality could actually lead to the birth of MORE babies as families try to compensate for the children who die during infancy!
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