Case description
Barbara is 40 years old and expecting her 4th child. Her doctors have advised her that, due to her age, she is at high risk for possible fetal death. Barbara conducts research on the internet. She finds statistics for fetal deaths from 2002-2011 based on age and race. She notes that African American Non-Hispanic group in all age groups consistently had the highest rate of fetal deaths. The statistics also show that starting in the age group 30-34 years, the rate of infant mortality increased slightly among all races.
What other factors other than age and race might account for an increase in infant mortality?
Infant mortality remains relatively high in the U.S. compared to other developed countries. Although age and race/ethnicity are the dominant factors affecting the risk of infant death, another important factor is related to the mother’s residence (Kamal et al., 2019). This can probably be explained by both the quality of life and the state of the surrounding area. As it turns out, southern states tend to have higher infant mortality rates.
What further research might you conduct?
Other factors can also be taken into account and scrutinized for correlation. Subsequent research can be aimed at elucidating the relationship between infant mortality and marital status, family income, and a mother’s weight. From a doctor’s point of view, one could also find out if Barbara has a genetic predisposition to miscarriages. Such a study of various factors can demonstrate in more detail the situation with infant mortality.
What measures would you take based on the information found?
Depending on the factor and nature of the correlation, several potential actions could be considered. In the case of Barbara, it is necessary to find out what physiological and genetic predispositions she may have. Based on this, ways should be considered to prevent dire consequences for the health of mother and child. Recommendations may include medication, counseling, nutritional advice, and weight management. In general, informing patients about the risks associated with certain factors should be communicated to women.
Reference
Kamal, R., Hudman, J., & McDermott, D. (2019). What do we know about infant mortality in the U.S. and comparable countries? Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker. Web.