Even with the improvements in their infant and mortality rates in recent years, migrants still lag far behind the national average. Their infant mortality in 1964 was at the level of the United States as a whole in 1949. Their maternal mortality rate was the same as the national average a decade ago. HEALTH STATUS-2 MORTALITY-1964 Migrants Compared with National Averages The accident mortality rate for migrants in 1964 was nearly three times the U.S. rate. It was 60 percent greater than the U.S. rate 30 years ago. Lesser disparities are shown in the mortality rates for tuberculosis and other infectious diseases, and for influenza and pneumonia. However, the differences are still great. Migrants' 1964 mortality from tuberculosis and other infectious diseases was 211⁄2 times the national rate, approximating the national average a dozen years ago. Their mortality from influenza and pneumonia was more than twice the national rate, and slightly in excess of the U.S. rate for 1940. The Migrant's Road to Health Care is Beset with Obstacles On the side of the migrant • POVERTY • LACK OF HEALTH KNOWLEDGE FEAR OF NON-ACCEPTANCE On the side of the community - • LEGAL RESTRICTIONS AGAINST SERVING NONRESIDENTS • LEGAL EXCLUSION FROM PROTECTIVE LEGISLATION HEALTH PLANNING PRIORITIES THAT EXCLUDE MIGRANTS ● INADEQUATE HEALTH MANPOWER • INADEQUATE FINANCIAL RESOURCES PROBLEMS OF SERVING A MOBILE GROUP |