Childhood Mortality: Still A Global Priority: Hani K. Atrash MD, MPH
Childhood Mortality: Still A Global Priority: Hani K. Atrash MD, MPH
Childhood Mortality: Still A Global Priority: Hani K. Atrash MD, MPH
EDITORIAL
ABSTRACT
Mortality of children under-5 continues to be a global priority. In 2012, 6.6 million children under5 died worldwide; more than half of these deaths are due to diseases that are preventable and
treatable through simple, affordable interventions. In response to the United Nations Millennium
Development Goal (MDGs) which called, through MDG4,to reduceby two thirds the under-5 child
mortality, between 1990 and 2015, global organizations and many countries set targets and developed
specific strategies to reduce child mortality and monitor progress.As a result, the number of deaths
in children under-5 worldwide declined from 12.4 million in 1990 to 6.6 in 2012. Under-5 child
mortality dropped in all regions of the world. However, two major challenges face the international
community: The wide disparity in the risk of child death among countries, and the emerging role of
neonatal death as a major component of child mortality. In order to continue the progress in reducing
under-5 child mortality worldwide, current efforts must continue and new strategies need to be
implemented to focus on preventing neonatal deaths as they start to represent a larger proportion
of under-5 child deaths. In particular, further reduction in neonatal mortality will depend heavily on
improving maternal health (MDG5).The world leaders continue to support the MDGs. In 2010, in a
major push to accelerate progress on womens and childrens health, a number of Heads of State
and Government from developed and developing countries, along with the private sector, foundations,
international organizations, civil society and research organizations, pledged over $40 billion in
resources over the next five years.
Key words: childhood mortality, child health, global health, millennium development goals
Millions of children die each year worldwide.
Most of these deaths occur in developing countries
and most can be prevented using currently
recommended simple, affordable, and effective
interventions. Significant progress has been made
in preventing childhood deaths since the adoption
of the Millennium Development Goals in 2000 1.
However, efforts need to continue and be intensified
to achieve the MDG 4 (Reduce child mortality) and,
with the changes in the leading causes of childhood
mortality, new strategies need to be developed and
adopted to achieve further progress.
Epidemiology: Because of the biologic and
social vulnerability of children under 5 years of age
and because childhood mortality rates decrease
dramatically after the age of 5, Childhood Death
is typically defined among the global public health
community as death of persons younger than 5 years
of age2. Under-5 childhood death (U5CD) rates are
also commonly used as indicators to assess the
health of a general population. The majority of the
Director, Division of Healthy Start and Perinatal Services. Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Health Resources and Services
Administration
Corresponding author: [email protected]
Suggested citation: Atrash HK. Childhood mortality: still a global priority. Journal of Human Growth and Development. 2013;
23(3): 257-260.
Manuscript submitted Aug 01 2013, accepted for publication Sep 19 2013.
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