The IGME updates child mortality estimates annually to monitor progress. Levels and trends in child mortality presents the UN-IGME’s latest estimates of under-5, infant and neonatal mortality and assesses progress towards MDG 4 at the country, regional and global levels.16 September 2013 – 530 000 fewer deaths occurred in children under 5 years of age in 2012 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region compared with 1990, according to a recently released report by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (IGME).
Under-5 mortality decreased by 45% in the 22-year period, from 103 to 57 per 1000 live births, at an annual rate of 2.7%. Progress has accelerated from an annual reduction of 2.3% in the decade 1990-1999 to 3.0% in 2000-2009 and 3.3% in 2010-2012. Neonatal mortality declined more slowly by a third (34%) in the same period. In six countries in the Region, the reduction has been greater than the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 4 target of reducing the under-5 mortality rate by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015. An additional six countries are on track to reach the target by 2015.
Yet, 899 000 under-5 deaths are estimated to occur still in the Region, 46% of them in the first month of life. Most (94%) of the children under-5 who die in the Region die in just 10 countries.
Fifty-nine percent (59%) of the under-5 deaths are caused by prematurity, acute lower respiratory infections, birth asphyxia and trauma, and diarrhoea.
The IGME was established in 2004 to advance the work on monitoring progress towards achievement of MDG 4. WHO is a member of this group, which also includes UNICEF, the World Bank and United Nations Population Division.
Related links
Child mortality estimates - CME Info
Saving the lives of mothers and children: accelerating progress towards achieving MDGs 4 and 5 in the Region
