Ha'aretz editorial (Saturday): Unacceptable differences in mortality rates

[Jack Rabbit]

From Ha'aretz (Jerusalem)
Dated Saturday November 29

Unacceptable differences in mortality rates

The infant mortality rate per 1,000 births in south Tel Aviv-Jaffa is three times higher than in north and central Tel Aviv. The data was collected over three years, 2000-2002, for a research project in the Tel Aviv District Health Office, which for the first time examined the connection between the mortality rate for infants and their socioeconomic status.
According to preliminary data, there's no connection between the mortality rate and ethnic origin (the research study did not cover foreign workers and the few Arab babies in Jaffa), nor to the differences in attitudes between secular and Haredim toward abortions (there was no gap in the data between north and south Tel Aviv regarding congenital defects), nor to differing levels of medical care at the various hospitals in the Tel Aviv area.
The research does not point to the reasons for the differences in mortality rates (those differences will be examined in the project's later stages), but the researchers assume they result from the effects of poverty on mortality and illness, the different levels of exposure to risk by a fetus as a result of the mother's lifestyle (smoking, diet), and the accessibility of treatment and checkups by doctors.

Read more.

[donsu]

1. what about pollution/toxins in the area?

nt

[Jack Rabbit]

2. The article says nothing about that

It's certainly possible.

What you are describing is the same phenomenon we call "toxic racism" in this country. Even in nations with more homogenous populations, toxic waste dumps will be put on land that is inexpensive, which of course is also where poor people live. In coutries with a pluralistic population and where race and poverty is correlated, this phenomenon also takes on a aura of racism.

The subtext of the article indicates that in Israel there is a correlation between race and poverty:

The research does not point to the reasons for the differences in mortality rates (those differences will be examined in the project's later stages), but the researchers assume they result from the effects of poverty on mortality and illness . . . .

However, I don't know about the extent of environmental pollution in Israel or related issues, such as toxic waste disposal. A little more information on this might be helpful.