Strategies to avert preventable mortality among mothers and children in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: new initiatives, new hope.
We conducted an assessment of maternal, newborn and child health and progress towards achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDG) 4 and 5 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). We provide recommendations for scaling up and sustaining gains post-2015. Data were obtained from global data repositories. We constructed time trends from 1990 to 2013 and evaluated inequities across the Region. Under-5, neonatal and maternal mortality rates decreased 46%, 35%, and 50% respectively from 1990 to 2013. Pneumonia and diarrhoea accounted for 50% of all post-neonatal deaths; pregnancy- and delivery-related complications were the leading causes of neonatal and maternal deaths. Coverage of maternal, newborn and child health interventions is suboptimal, and poverty, food insecurity and conflict are pervasive across the Region. The EMR has made progress but is unlikely to attain MDG 4 and 5 targets. To sustain and further accelerate gains, the Region must reduce inequities and scale up implementation of recommendations made by the independent Expert Review Group.
Centre for Global Child Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
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Akseer
Centre for Global Child Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
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Kamali
Centre for Global Child Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
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Husain
Centre for Global Child Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
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Mirza
Centre for Global Child Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
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Bakhache
Centre for Global Child Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada; Center of Excellence in Women and Child Health, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
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Bhutta
D002648:Child; D046688:Child Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008428:Maternal Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D000068101:Maternal-Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D064890:Social Determinants of Health