[Photos in B&W] Historical Look at Child and Newborn Health in the US

There is a long tradition of newborn and child healthcare in the United States and around the world for that matter. See photos below. From 1900 – 1997 the child mortality rate decreased more than 90% in the United States – a laudable national health achievement. Now there is an accelerated global move to save more newborn lives around the world given the knowledge and interventions that can keep more newborns alive in countries where the newborn mortality rate is absurdly high.

UNICEF and the World Health Organization has led a new movement to draft the Every Newborn Action Plan that will create a roadmap to lower the newborn mortality rate across the board to effectively reduce the overall child mortality rate. Through February 28 you can add your thoughts and ideas about the plan on the World Health Organization web site.

Without a national plan, strength of will, resources, and national participation the child mortality rate in the United States might not have improved as rapidly as it did. This shows that indeed improvements can be made in child and newborn survival rates when everyone is on the same page. Changes will not happen overnight, to be sure, but they will happen when steps are made in the right direction.

Read and comment on the Every Newborn Action Plan.

Nurse Aiko Hamaguchi, mother Frances Yokoyama, baby Fukomoto, Manzanar Relocation Center, California. Ansel Adams

Baby in the nursey at the Cairns General Hospital at the FSA (Farm Security Administration) farm workers' community. Eleven Mile Corner, Arizona — Baby in the nursey at the Cairns General Hospital at the FSA (Farm Security Administration) farm workers’ community. Eleven Mile Corner, Arizona
Russell Lee

Nurse weighs baby in the nursery of the Cairns General Hospital at the FSA (Farm Security Administration) farm workers' community. Eleven Mile Corner, Arizona. Russel Lee — Nurse weighs baby in the nursery of the Cairns General Hospital at the FSA (Farm Security Administration) farm workers’ community. Eleven Mile Corner, Arizona. Russel Lee

Chicago, Illinois. Provident Hospital. Miss Irene Hill, nurse technician, taking baby to be x-rayed. Jack Delano

Photo shows "Junior Sea Breeze" a summer hospital for babies run by the Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor, supported by John D. Rockefeller. The hospital was located at 64th Street and the East River, New York City. — Photo shows “Junior Sea Breeze” a summer hospital for babies run by the Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor, supported by John D. Rockefeller. The hospital was located at 64th Street and the East River, New York City. Bain News Service.

Doctors examining baby whose parents have just brought him into the clinic at the Negro hospital. Chicago, Illinois. Russel Lee

At the well baby clinic at the Cairns General Hospital at the FSA (Farm Security Administration) farm workers' community. The well baby clinic meets once a week and babies are weighed, measured, and others given instructions as to their care, feeding, etc. Three of those babies were born at the Cairns Hospital. Eleven Mile Corner, Arizona — At the well baby clinic at the Cairns General Hospital at the FSA (Farm Security Administration) farm workers’ community. The well baby clinic meets once a week and babies are weighed, measured, and others given instructions as to their care, feeding, etc. Three of those babies were born at the Cairns Hospital. Eleven Mile Corner, Arizona

Babies and child care - doctor examining babies on Recreation Pier, E. 24th St., N.Y.C. - N.Y. Health Board supervising care of babies in hot weather — Babies and child care – doctor examining babies on Recreation Pier, E. 24th St., N.Y.C. – N.Y. Health Board supervising care of babies in hot weather

Credits

Courtesy of the Library of Congress, LC-A35-5-M-4
Courtesy of the Library of Congress, LC-USF34- 071888-D
Courtesy of the Library of Congress, LC-USF34- 071908-D
Courtesy of the Library of Congress, LC-USW3- 000544-D
Courtesy of the Library of Congress, LC-DIG-ggbain-09828
Courtesy of the Library of Congress, LC-USF34-038660-D
Courtesy of the Library of Congress, LC-USF34-071858-D
Courtesy of the Library of Congress, LC-USZ62-72011