Levels & Trends in Child Mortality: Report 2020

The report states that there has been a significant improvement in mortality rates from 1990 to 2019. Globally, the number of deaths among children below five years reduced from 12.5 million in 1990 to 5.2 million in 2019. The neonatal mortality rate fell from 37 to 17 deaths per 1,000 live births during this period.

Despite the progress made, as many as 7.4 million children and youth under 25 years died due to preventable causes in 2019. About 70 per cent of these deaths ­­– 5.2 million – occurred among children under five years.

Child mortality rates differ across the world, areas in Sub-Saharan Africa being the most severely affected. The region accounted for over half of all under-five deaths in 2019. Central and South Asia recorded 28 per cent of the total deaths – a cumulative 1.5 million – of children under five.

Infectious diseases like pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria, are major causes of mortality among children under five. Malnourished children are at a higher risk of dying from such illnesses. Preterm birth and delivery-related complications are also common causes of mortality in children of this age.

The World Bank releases a yearly list of countries with ‘fragile and conflict-affected situations’. Its list for 2020 had 37 States, including Afghanistan, Chad and Kosovo. As per 2019 estimates, the UNICEF report states, the under-five mortality rate for the listed countries was nearly three times more compared to other States.

Most countries – except those in South and West Asia – record a higher probability of boys dying before reaching the age of five.

Globally, the report states, the mortality rate of individuals aged 5-24 is lower than that of children under five. It is lowest for children aged 10-14.

Deaths among children and youth aged 5-24 are mainly concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa, and Central and South Asia. These regions accounted for more than 70 per cent of the deaths in 2019. Injuries, accidents, interpersonal violence and self-harm, are the leading causes of death for children, adolescents and youth of this age group.

Fewer countries have made progress on the SDG target on neonatal mortality, as compared to those on track to meet the goal for under-five mortality. At the current rate, 24 million newborns are likely to die between 2020 and 2030. About 80 per cent of deaths would be recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

It is likely – the report notes – that the Covid-19 pandemic will have considerable and pervasive indirect effects on youth mortality, due to the overburdened health infrastructure; higher economic strain on households; barriers to care and preventative measures such as vaccines and nutrition supplements; and stress related to these sudden changes.

The report states that the impending ‘mortality crisis’ can be prevented by targeting efforts towards vulnerable age groups, regions and communities. The reduction in mortality will require stronger health systems as well as adequate preventative and curative services. In the case of infectious diseases, for example, authorities will have to quickly implement vaccine programmes, provide better nutrition and greater care for such diseases as pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria.

Focus and Factoids by Aryaman Padhee.

PARI Library's health archive project is part of an initiative supported by the Azim Premji University to develop a free-access repository of health-related reports relevant to rural India.