Poor maternal health explains high child mortality in England, comparison with Sweden finds

Higher rates of premature births, lower birth weights, and more congenital abnormalities explain the much higher child mortality in England than in Sweden despite the two countries’ similar levels of economic development and universal healthcare, a comparative study has suggested.1

“While child deaths are still rare, the UK has one of the highest child mortality rates in western Europe,” said the lead author, Ania Zylbersztejn, from UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health in London, UK.

She added, “Babies born prematurely or with low birth weight have an increased risk of early death, and those …