FACTBOX-Key findings of UNICEF study on child mortality

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Thu Sep 10, 2009 8:36am EDT

Sept 10 (Reuters) - Childhood deaths have declined across the world, data released on Thursday showed, but the drop is still insufficient to meet the United Nations millennium development goal.

The key findings of the data and study published by the United Nations children's fund (UNICEF) in The Lancet medical journal are as follows:

* The estimated global mortality for children under five in 2008 is 65 per 1,000 live births, versus 90 in 1990.



* Around 8.8 million children under five died during 2008, compared with 12.5 million in 1990.

*In 2008, around 10,000 fewer children die every day, as compared to 1990.

* Together, Africa (51 percent) and Asia (42 percent) represented 93 percent of all deaths globally.

* In terms of progress towards MDG4, the best performing region is Latin America and the Caribbean, which has reduced under five mortality by 56 percent between 1990 and 2008, and is ontrack to meet MDG 4.



* The region comprising central and eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States is also on track, with a 55 percent reduction from 1990-2008.

* The only other two regions on track to meet MDG4 are industrialised (high-income) countries (40 percent reduction 1990-2008) and East Asia and Pacific (48 percent reduction 1990-2008).

* The highest under-five mortality rates continue to be in Africa, with 132 deaths per 1000 live births across the whole continent. In sub-Saharan Africa, the rate is 144 deaths per 1000 live births. This is 24 times the rate in industrialised countries.

* Africa has reduced its under-five mortality rate by 21 percent 1990-2008; this is not enough to reach MDG 4. Asia has done better, reducing its own rate by 38 percent; but this is still insufficient to reach MDG4.

* The highest numbers of deaths also occurred in sub-Saharan Africa, with 4.4 million children under-5 dying during 2008 -- half of the total world deaths. Due to high fertility in this region, combined with high mortality, numbers of deaths have actually increased from 4.0 million in 1990 to 4.4 million in 2008.

SOURCE: THE LANCET

For a report on the study, please click on [** LINK TO STORY PLEASE ** ] (Compiled by Kate Kelland)

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