Without expanded services and research, the racial gaps in infant mortality crisis could worsen

If infant mortality is a barometer of a nation’s health, the United States is failing, with one of the highest infant mortality rates among countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Much of this can be attributed to the fact the Black infant mortality rate is more than double the white rate, which results in over 3,000 more Black infants dying each year than we should expect.

Our recent study found the situation is worse in Chicago, where the Black rate is more than four times higher than the white rate. These racial differences stem from structural and social factors, which recent executive orders threaten to exacerbate.

Solving the infant mortality crisis requires expanding services for families, particularly those benefiting Black women and children. Expanded access to Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act led to reduced infant mortality rates, especially among Black infants, but Congress is considering cutting funding for it. Twenty million people may lose coverage.

The administration has threatened to defund many federal programs, including the Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant, which addresses social and economic drivers of infant mortality, supporting 59 million people annually. The administration's challenges to diversity, equity,and inclusion programs endanger initiatives that address issues related to race or health equity.

Addressing the racial gap in infant mortality also requires support for research. Studies like ours are possible because we track maternal and child health outcomes. Unfortunately, those systems are at risk.

The Trump administration froze the Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring System, a vital database used to understand trends in infant health and develop interventions. Threats posed to our research infrastructure may endanger future advances in infant health.

At the federal level, it is vital to keep funding health agencies, data collection and expanded Medicaid coverage. States and cities must protect access to healthcare and services to improve social and economic well-being. States should increase funding for initiatives to improve infant health to make up for federal shortfalls.

This is particularly vital in the cities like Chicago where we identified the largest racial gaps. Individuals should contact elected representatives to voice support for programs supporting our communities.

Poor birth outcomes like infant mortality, preterm birth and low birth weight are devastating for families and have consequences across the life course that are expensive for the healthcare system and nation. Reducing the number of infant deaths is one of our nation’s priority health goals for 2030.

Unfortunately, combining existing racial inequities with the administration’s policy direction, we are likely to see worsening maternal and child health outcomes, particularly for Black women and children.

Nazia S. Saiyed, Maureen R. Benjamins and Britney P. Smart, public health researchers, Sinai Urban Health Institute, Chicago

If Americans don’t speak out, they’ll be more Abrego Garcias

President Donald Trump’s refusal to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia is a moment in history that should terrify every American, left or right.

A legal citizen with no criminal record was taken from his family and shipped overseas. The U.S. Department of Justice has admitted he was mistakenly seized. But instead of fixing it, the administration is doubling down and refusing to make El Salvador's president, Nayib Bukele, return him.

If this can happen to Abrego Garcia, why can’t it happen to other legal citizens? To your neighbor, to your family? To you? Trump told Bukele that “home-growns are next.” Unless we change direction, Abrego Garcia will not be the last person seized.

We should all be fighting for America’s survival. I love this country. But as I watched the scene from the Oval Office, Trump smirking while Bukele said returning Abrego Garcia was "preposterous" and watched them lie about him being a "terrorist," I realized our America is no longer simply on the cusp of becoming a dangerous dictatorship; we’ve descended into the nightmare.

Anyone with a moral compass, anyone with a love for America, anyone who doesn’t want their kids and grandkids growing up in fear of being disappeared for speaking their mind: Now is the time to come together and say ENOUGH. We will not let our beautiful American experiment die out in the name of greed and hatred.

We should all write and call on Chief Justice John Roberts and the U.S. Supreme Court, members of Congress, military officials: Those in power must right this wrong, bring Abrego Garcia home, and stop the illegal deportation and incarceration of human beings without due process.

Alice Froemling, South Elgin

Trump should watch old ‘Seinfeld’ episodes for tips

There is a "Seinfeld" episode called "The Opposite." After years of bungling and failure, George Costanza discovers if he does the opposite of whatever his instinct is, he will actually succeed.

This makes me think of our current president. With every decision the president makes, I find that I completely disagree. So I am thinking he should try George's strategy.

You want to cut money to the U.S. Agency for International Development? No, instead increase this funding. Lay off federal workers? Instead, lay off Elon Musk and his chaos crew and keep all employees doing our country's work. Cut Medicaid? Better to increase funding to strengthen our health care system.

Think about it President Trump — try doing the opposite of every instinct you have; perhaps that will make America great.

Bill Carroll, Chicago