Terminology

• Use the words low/middle/high income countries (rather than developed vs developing, 'third world')
  • Based on estimates of gross national income per capita for the previous year
  • Aims to group countries of similar attributes with people who live similar lives

Child mortality

• Under 5 mortality rate: probability of a child dying before reaching the age of 5
• Infant mortality rate: probability of a child dying before reaching the age of 1
• Under 5 mortality and infant mortality are probability of death expressed as rate per 1000 live births
  • Live birth: any sign of life after birth irrespective of gestation
• Child mortality rates are important as they are leading indicators of the level of child health and overall development in counties; they allow comparison over time

Top 5 causes of child mortality

Top 5 causes of under 5 mortality globally

• Preterm birth complications
• Pneumonia
• Intrapartum-related complications e.g. birth asphyxia from obstructed labour, neonatal sepsis
• Congenital abnormalities
• Diarrhoea

Top 5 causes of under 5 mortality in Africa

• Diarrhoea
• Pneumonia
• Malaria
• Preterm birth complications
• Intrapartum-related complications