Mortality rates and causes in children

Mortality for Children

There are actually very few surprises regarding the map of the world that illustrates the under-five-years-old mortality rate around the globe. One may even successfully argue that a map of a different subject, this one detailing the world's accumulation of wealth, would actually look the exact same as the former map. Subsequently, it appears as though the world's infant mortality rate for children under-five-years-old mirrors larger health problems throughout the world, which in turn closely parallels the socio-economic status of the world at large. Quite simply, countries, continents and places of the world in which there are better economies and socio-economic opportunities have better health care -- meaning those are the areas in which effects of health care (such as infant mortality deaths) are demonstrably seen as better than those places of lower socio-economic status.

Therefore, without knowing anything whatsoever about the infant mortality rates for children under five on a global scale, one would certainly expect those rates to be lower in more developed countries which readily have access to good healthcare. The fact that Europe and the United States (and indeed, most of the North American continent) have the lowest rates in the world (with more than 25 deaths per every 1,000 incidents of birth) is not too surprising. Nor is it surprising than in lesser developed, so-called third world countries -- a great deal of which are found in Africa, particularly sub-Saharan Africa -- the mortality rates are highest and are under 150 deaths for every 1,000 births. It is also noticeable that in certain parts of Africa, such as in the north which is closer to Europe and its economy and health care opportunities, the incidences of death is substantially lower than in the southern part of the Continent, which is farther away from the resources of the so-called civilized world, Europe and North America.

There are several different elements that should be considered and properly acted upon to facilitate a comprehensive program to reduce the mortality rates for children under five. According to the World Health Organization, "6.9 million children under the age of five died in 2011. More than half of these early child deaths are due to conditions that could be prevented or treated with access to simple, affordable interventions" (No author, 2012).

Therefore, the comprehensive program to address this issue will consist of three different parts. The first is to provide interventions for mothers prior to childbirth, the second is to provide interventions during childbirth, and the third is to provide interventions during the first five years after childbirth. For the first of these interventions, it is crucial that mothers receive immunizations against common child-bearing diseases such as tetanus, receive regular visits from antenatal consultants, and refrain from intoxicants such as drinking or smoking (No author, 2012).