Progress in reducing maternal, young child mortality rates

Maternal and young child mortality rates have been cut by half or more in some of the world’s poorest countries, according to a new report from Countdown to 2015.

“We are very pleased to see that many countries are making a major leap forward and have managed to save so many lives in a relatively short period of time,” Mickey Chopra, MD, PhD, chief of health for UNICEF and co-chair of Countdown to 2015, said in a press release. “Progress is especially happening in countries where governments are taking evidence to guide investment and policy decisions, and where all stakeholders — including the UN, donors, corporates and civil society — are working together effectively to create real change for women and children.”

Countdown to 2015 examines progress made in the 75 countries that together account for more than 95% of all maternal and child deaths.

However, progress has been made since the countdown began. The number of women who die each year from pregnancy or childbirth-related complications dropped from 543,000 in 1990 to 287,000 in 2010. Also, between 1990 and 2010, 30 of the 75 countries showed reductions of 50% or more in maternal mortality ratios.

Mortality for children aged younger than 5 years also decreased from nearly 12 million in 1990 to about 6.9 million in 2010. Thirty countries also reduced their child mortality rates by 50% or more.

“Momentum is gathering,” Elizabeth Mason, MD, director for Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health for WHO, said in a press release. “But we still need to move faster. With less than 1,000 days until the 2015 [UN Millennium Development Goal] deadline, we need to maximize the power of time-tested basics like breast-feeding, soap and clean water alongside new medicines and technologies to keep even more mothers and children alive and healthy.”

However, to reach the UN Millennium Development Goals, more progress is needed in certain areas, including newborn deaths, infectious diseases and breast-feeding.

Some countries are making progress more quickly than others with reports of wide differences in coverage levels for key intervention and services across countries where data is available.

“It’s great news so many countries are making faster progress and that more countries than anticipated are showing potential to fulfill [UN Millennium Development Goals] 4 and 5 and integrating services,” Zulfiqar Bhutta, FRCP, PhD, co-chair of Countdown to 2015, said in a press release. “The work must not stop, though, until we end preventable deaths in women and children. We’re not closing shop in 2015. We can pause and congratulate the countries that have done well, but there is a lot more to do to helping others reach these goals; we have to keep going.”

For more information:

Countdown to 2015. Accountability for Maternal, Newborn & Child Survival: The 2013 Update.Accessed June 5, 2013.