Daniel Favano PSYCH 3301.002 Strang SA#3 Preterm birth and low birth weight are the leading causes for death in newborns. While considered socially as no longer a first-world issue, preterm and low birth rates have increased since the 1970's possibly for numerous reasons that span across cultural ideologies, and the economy. In vitro fertilization has become an increasingly popular form of becoming pregnant. Thanks to in vitro fertilization (IVF), the rate of multiple births at once has increased. Studies have supported the notion that having twins or more leaves a child at risk for being delivered at a low birth weight. Likewise, living in poverty is linked to preterm and low birth weight. In the United States, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutrition service has been a strong power in aiding mothers and children. This may be linked to the clear economic decline in the United States after the 1970's. With a documented unemployment rate at approximately 7.8%, and about 3.5% being the rate in 1970, we can assume that the rate of unemployment affects the rate of poverty, and thus supports the rates of preterm births and low birth weight. On a short-term scale, it is known that a child's chance of survival is significantly lower than that of a healthy infant. Studies have also sown that basic behaviors that an infant develops will be less developed at specific points in development, such as sucking. On a long-term scale, children born preterm run the risk of a heightened chance for neurological impairments such as cerebral palsy. They also have a higher risk of developing diabetes and other diet-related disorders. Thanks to modern medicine and practice, one may not be aware of these issues at first glance. While the preterm and LBW rates have increased, modern medicine has increased the survival chance. This, however, does not change the fact that the dwindling economy is affecting the development of our children in ways more invasive than we have ever imagined.