Editorial: The Perinatal Paradox.

The article highlights the "perinatal paradox" and the incongruity between the superb ability to care for the individual patient and the dismal failure to address the problems of the larger society. It is agreed that the problems of the larger society has not been adequately addressed. It is felt that socially based assistance should be a component of programs to benefit children. It is felt that attention to the social and economic needs of women may contribute more than additional medical care to reducing infant mortality in the United States.