State of the World's Mothers 2006

From the Save the Children website:

For most children in the developing world, the most dangerous day of their lives is the day they are born, according to new research by Save the Children.

The State of the World’s Mothers 2006 report reveals that of more than 10 million children under the age of 5 who die each year in the developing world, about 1 in 5 - an estimated 2 million babies - die within the first 24 hours of life.

An additional 1 million babies die during days 2 through 7 and a total of 4 million babies die during the first month.

Save the Children stresses that simple, affordable techniques, such as immunising women against tetanus and providing a skilled attendant at birth, could reduce these deaths by 70 percent.

“The first hours, days and weeks of a baby’s life are critical yet, only a tiny minority of babies in poor countries receive proper heath care during this highly vulnerable period,” said Save the Children Chief Executive Jasmine Whitbread. “The most simple health measures such as that we take for granted can mean the difference between life and death.”

Most newborn deaths are the result of preventable causes such as infections, complications at birth and low birth weight. Newborn deaths are one of the world’s most neglected heath problems. While there has been significant progress in reducing deaths among children under age 5 over the past decade, there has been little progress in reducing mortality rates for babies during the first month of life. Newborn deaths are so common in many parts of the developing world that parents put off naming their babies until they are a week to 3 months old.

The report recommends:

• Increased investment to help girls and young women in poor countries have greater access to education, nutrition and modern contraceptives.
• Provision of low-cost, low-tech solutions to mothers and babies that save lives during pregnancy, at birth and immediately after birth. These measures include tetanus immunizations, skilled attendant at childbirth, prompt treatment of newborn infections and education about proper hygiene, warmth and breastfeeding for infants.
• Improved access to good quality health care to mothers after childbirth.

In addition to its special focus on newborns and mothers, the report includes Save the Children’s seventh annual Mothers’ Index that identifies the best—and worst—countries to be mother and child through a comprehensive look at their well-being in 125 countries. For the seventh year in a row, Scandinavian countries dominate the top tier of the rankings with Sweden taking first place. The United States and United Kingdom tie for 10th place. Niger is in last place.

Read the State of the World's Mothers 2006