Child health - Maternal health

Summary

Dr. Andy Young, a pediatrician, discusses global child health challenges, focusing on child mortality, its causes, and future goals. Despite significant progress in reducing child deaths from 12.6 million in 1990 to 5.6 million in 2015, there are still substantial disparities, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia. The goal to reduce under-five mortality to 25 per 1000 live births by 2030 is within reach globally, but progress varies greatly by country. The script emphasizes the need for better data, equitable healthcare, and a focus on both survival and thriving, including addressing malnutrition and early childhood development.

Takeaways

• 😀 In 2015, 5.6 million children under five died globally, a significant decrease from 12.6 million in 1990.
• 😀 The Millennium Development Goal 4 aimed for a two-thirds reduction in child mortality by 2015, achieving a 57% decrease instead.
• 😀 Many countries lack comprehensive vital registration systems, making accurate child mortality data difficult to gather.
• 😀 Sustainable Development Goal 3 sets a target to end preventable child deaths by 2030, with an under-five mortality rate of 25 or below.
• 😀 Progress is uneven across regions, with sub-Saharan Africa, Southern Asia, and East Asia having the highest child mortality rates.
• 😀 Global child mortality is projected to decrease further by 2030, but some countries like South Sudan and Chad will still have high mortality rates.
• 😀 The poorest households have 1.9 times higher under-five mortality rates than the wealthiest households.
• 😀 Rural populations experience 1.7 times higher under-five mortality rates compared to urban populations.
• 😀 Neonatal mortality has been slower to decrease compared to overall under-five mortality, with a 48% reduction in neonatal deaths versus a 56% reduction in under-five deaths.
• 😀 The leading causes of child death are communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases, followed by non-communicable diseases and injuries.
• 😀 Child health must go beyond survival to ensuring that every child thrives, which includes addressing malnutrition and promoting early childhood development.

Q & A

How many children under the age of five died globally in 2015?

In 2015, UNICEF estimated that 5.6 million children under the age of 5 died globally.

How does the number of child deaths in 2015 compare to 1990?

In 1990, 12.6 million children under the age of five died, which is significantly higher than the 5.6 million deaths in 2015, showing a marked decrease.

What was the target for under-five mortality set by the Millennium Development Goal 4?

The target was to reduce the under-five mortality rate by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015.

Did the world achieve the Millennium Development Goal 4 target?

No, while there was a significant reduction of 57% in the under-five mortality rate, the target of a two-thirds reduction was not fully met.

Why are estimates for under-five mortality different between the United Nations and the International Health Metrics and Evaluation unit?

The estimates differ because many countries lack comprehensive vital registration systems, and the data is estimated using different statistical methods.

What is the target under-five mortality rate set by the Sustainable Development Goal 3?

Sustainable Development Goal 3 aims to reduce the under-five mortality rate to 25 or below by 2030.

Which regions of the world have made the most progress in reducing child mortality?

Regions such as Western Asia and Northern Africa have made significant progress and are close to reaching the SDG target, while Sub-Saharan Africa, Southern Asia, and East Asia still have higher rates.

What challenges remain for countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and other regions with high child mortality?

Countries like South Sudan, Chad, and the Central African Republic are projected to still have under-five mortality rates above 75 by 2030, three times the target rate, representing a significant challenge.

Which populations are most affected by high under-five mortality rates?

The poorest households, rural populations, and neonates (newborns) are the most affected, with significantly higher mortality rates compared to richer households, urban populations, and older children.

What are the three main categories of causes of death for children under five?

The causes of death for children under five are categorized into three groups: communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases; non-communicable diseases; and injuries.

What does the WHO's global strategy for women's, children's, and adolescents' health emphasize beyond survival?

The strategy emphasizes the need for children to 'thrive,' meaning to reach their full potential, which includes addressing malnutrition and ensuring good quality early childhood development.