Health > Death rates > Children under 5: Countries Compared
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Author: chris.lockyer781
The under-five mortality rate is the risk of a child dying before reaching five years of age. It is calculated as the number of children below five years in a given calendar year divided by the number of live births in the same year which is then multiplied by 1,000. It is the most important indicator of child health in a country.
Description:
In developed countries, the under-five mortality is at 7 per 1000 while in the least developed countries, it is as high as 63 per 1000. The mortality rate of children below five is increased in children who are poor, those who live in rural areas, and those whose mothers have not received basic education.
The risk of dying is highest during the neonatal period or the first month of life. Neonatal deaths account for about 40% of under-five deaths. These are caused by preterm birth, complications during birth such as asphyxia, and severe infection.
After the neonatal period, the top causes of under-five deaths are pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria. Five million children under five years of age die annually of pneumonia. Diarrhea causes 17% of under five deaths. Measles, malaria and AIDS account for 15%. Malnutrition makes children susceptible to severe disease and is an underlying factor in 45% of under-five deaths.
Children in the African region have the highest under-five death rates worldwide. These children are 16 times more likely to die compared to children in developed nations. The high under-five mortality rate in poorer nations is due to lack of access to basic health care and poor or delayed care-seeking. Poor nutrition and sanitation are also major underlying factors. It is estimated that improvement of health services can prevent up to 60% of under-five deaths.
Citations:
1) WHO: Under five mortality. http://www.who.int/gho/childhealth/mortality/mortalityunderfivetext/en/
2) WHO: Children: reducing mortality. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs178/en/
3) Under five mortality rate. http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mi/wiki/4-1-Under-five-mortality-rate.ashx
4) The under five mortality rate. http://www.unicef.org/sowc08/docs/sowc08_panels.pdf
CONTENTS
Citation
Interesting observations about Health > Death rates > Children under 5
- Chad ranked first for death rates > children under 5 amongst Hot countries in 2009.
- Democratic Republic of the Congo ranked first for death rates > children under 5 amongst Christian countries in 2009.
- Azerbaijan ranked first for death rates > children under 5 amongst Europe in 2009.
- Sierra Leone ranked first for death rates > children under 5 amongst Former British colonies in 2009.
- Romania ranked first for death rates > children under 5 amongst European Union in 2009.
- Chile ranked first for death rates > children under 5 amongst High income OECD countries in 2009.
- Pakistan ranked first for death rates > children under 5 amongst Emerging markets in 2009.
- Turkey ranked first for death rates > children under 5 amongst NATO countries in 2009.
- Burundi ranked first for death rates > children under 5 amongst Catholic countries in 2009.
- Malawi ranked first for death rates > children under 5 amongst Heavily indebted countries in 2009.
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The under-five mortality rate is the risk of a child dying before reaching five years of age. It is calculated as the number of children below five years in a given calendar year divided by the number of live births in the same year which is then multiplied by 1,000. It is the most important indicator of child health in a country.
Description:
In developed countries, the under-five mortality is at 7 per 1000 while in the least developed countries, it is as high as 63 per 1000. The mortality rate of children below five is increased in children who are poor, those who live in rural areas, and those whose mothers have not received basic education.
The risk of dying is highest during the neonatal period or the first month of life. Neonatal deaths account for about 40% of under-five deaths. These are caused by preterm birth, complications during birth such as asphyxia, and severe infection.
After the neonatal period, the top causes of under-five deaths are pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria. Five million children under five years of age die annually of pneumonia. Diarrhea causes 17% of under five deaths. Measles, malaria and AIDS account for 15%. Malnutrition makes children susceptible to severe disease and is an underlying factor in 45% of under-five deaths.
Children in the African region have the highest under-five death rates worldwide. These children are 16 times more likely to die compared to children in developed nations. The high under-five mortality rate in poorer nations is due to lack of access to basic health care and poor or delayed care-seeking. Poor nutrition and sanitation are also major underlying factors. It is estimated that improvement of health services can prevent up to 60% of under-five deaths.
Citations:
1) WHO: Under five mortality. http://www.who.int/gho/childhealth/mortality/mortalityunderfivetext/en/
2) WHO: Children: reducing mortality. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs178/en/
3) Under five mortality rate. http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mi/wiki/4-1-Under-five-mortality-rate.ashx
4) The under five mortality rate. http://www.unicef.org/sowc08/docs/sowc08_panels.pdf
Posted on 09 Apr 2014
chris.lockyer781
396 Stat enthusiast
