es.euronews.com
EU Infant Mortality Rises Amid Healthcare Shortages
Infant mortality rates rose in at least eight EU countries in 2024, with Romania and France showing the sharpest increases, exceeding the EU average of 3.3 deaths per 1,000 live births; factors include increased maternal age, higher multiple births, and unequal healthcare access; healthcare worker shortages and maternity ward closures exacerbate the problem.
- What are the most significant factors contributing to the increase in infant mortality rates in multiple EU countries in 2024?
- Infant mortality rates in the EU rose in at least eight countries in 2024, exceeding the EU average of 3.3 deaths per 1,000 live births. Romania saw a dramatic increase from 2.1 to 6.4, while France's rate doubled to 4.1. This translates to one in 250 children dying before age one in France.
- What are the potential long-term societal and economic impacts of the rising infant mortality rates and declining maternal healthcare resources in the EU?
- The increased infant mortality, coupled with healthcare worker shortages and maternity ward closures in several EU nations, points to a concerning trend. The closures, notably affecting Portugal, Germany, and France, highlight systemic challenges in ensuring accessible and equitable maternal healthcare across the EU. Long-term impacts could include widening health disparities and potentially impacting population growth.
- How do healthcare worker shortages and maternity ward closures in several EU countries affect infant mortality rates and broader maternal healthcare access?
- The rise in infant mortality is linked to several factors, including increased maternal age, higher rates of multiple births, and geographical inequalities in access to maternal healthcare. This trend deviates from overall mortality rates in countries like Portugal, which saw a 20% increase in infant mortality between 2023 and 2024.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames the increase in infant mortality rates as a significant problem, using strong terms like "significant increase" and "doubled". The headline (not provided, but inferred from the content) likely emphasized the negative trend. While this is factually accurate, a more balanced framing could also include positive aspects, such as the low rates in some countries or ongoing efforts to improve healthcare systems. The focus on the negative aspect could cause undue alarm.
Language Bias
The language used is generally neutral, but the repeated emphasis on the increases in infant mortality rates contributes to a negative tone. Phrases like "significant increase" and "doubled" are strong and emotive. More neutral language could include phrases like 'increase observed' or 'rise noted'.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses on the increase in infant mortality rates in several EU countries but omits discussion of potential contributing factors beyond those mentioned (increased maternal age, multiple pregnancies, geographical inequalities in access to maternal healthcare). While it mentions staff shortages and maternity unit closures, a more in-depth analysis of these issues and their correlation to the rising rates would provide a more complete picture. The article also doesn't explore potential variations in data collection methods across different EU countries, which could affect comparability.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a somewhat dichotomous view by highlighting the high infant mortality rates in some countries (France, Romania) while contrasting them with the low rates in others (Latvia, Sweden). This implicitly creates a false dichotomy, ignoring the nuances and varying circumstances within each country. The overall picture is complex and not simply a binary of 'high' versus 'low'.
Gender Bias
The article mentions that boys are 1.2 times more likely to die than girls before the age of one. However, there is no further analysis of this gender disparity or exploration of potential underlying reasons. The information is presented as a simple statistic without deeper context or exploration of potential societal or biological factors.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article reports a rise in infant mortality rates in several EU countries in 2024, exceeding the EU average. This directly impacts SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. The increase in infant mortality indicates a setback in achieving this goal, particularly concerning child survival. Factors like increased maternal age, multiple pregnancies, and geographical inequalities in healthcare access are cited as potential contributing factors, highlighting systemic issues hindering progress towards SDG 3.