Maternal, newborn and child survival
Improving the survival chances of newborns, children and mothers is an urgent global challenge.
Children, newborns and mothers have a greater chance of surviving today than they did just two decades ago. Still, diseases like pneumonia, malaria and diarrhoea – along with pregnancy- and birth-related complications – claim the lives of millions of children and mothers every year.
In 2019 alone, 6.1 million children under the age of 15 died – including 5.2 million children under the age of 5. Almost half of these children died in the first month of life. What's more, an estimated 810 women die every day from causes related to pregnancy or childbirth.
Most of these deaths can be avoided. In many parts of the world, underfunded health systems struggle to provide quality and equitable essential services to save the lives of children and mothers.
If current trends persist, 48 million children under the age of 5 will die between 2018 and 2030 – half of them newborns. Improving the survival chances of babies, children and their mothers remains an urgent global challenge.
UNICEF's response
UNICEF is committed to addressing the needs of mothers, newborns and children, and ensuring they have access to affordable, quality health care, good nutrition and clean water.
We work closely with Governments, partners and communities to combat common infectious childhood diseases and end preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths. And we help countries reach more children and women – especially the most vulnerable – with essential health services.
Maternal and newborn health
UNICEF and partners help save the lives of mothers, newborns and children and address preventable stillbirths by supporting high-quality, evidence-based, equitable and low-cost care and services before, during and after birth – at health facilities and at home. We also work towards the final elimination of maternal and newborn tetanus across the globe.
Childhood diseases
Despite being entirely preventable and treatable, common infectious diseases still kill children in large numbers. UNICEF supports countries to provide preventative and curative services for pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria and other health conditions.
Immunization
UNICEF and partners support immunization programmes in over 100 countries to help children survive and lead healthy lives. Our efforts include engaging communities to create vaccine demand, procuring and distributing vaccines, and keeping vaccines safe and effective.
Resources
Levels and Trends in Child Mortality, 2020
This report from UNICEF and partners shows the full scope of child mortality rates across the world, as well as the progress made towards meeting Sustainable Development Goal targets.
A Neglected Tragedy: The Global Burden of Stillbirths
This report is the first publication by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, which exclusively looks at data around stillbirths.
Ending preventable newborn deaths and stillbirths by 2030
In this document, ENAP provides a roadmap to end preventable newborn mortality, reduce disability and end preventable stillbirths by 2030.
Every Child Alive: The Urgent Need to End Newborn Deaths
Read more about what needs to be done to accelerate global efforts to end preventable newborn deaths.
One Is Too Many: Ending Child Deaths from Pneumonia and Diarrhoea
This UNICEF report shows why and how ending preventable child deaths from pneumonia and diarrhoea is within our grasp.
Newborn Health in Humanitarian Settings Field Guide
This field guide provides information related to newborn care during the first 28 days of life in humanitarian settings.
Survive and Thrive: Transforming Care for Every Small and Sick Newborn
This technical report on small and sick newborns, developed by UNICEF and the World Health Organization, outlines what can be done to transform inpatient care for small and sick newborns.
Every Newborn Progress Report, 2019
This report provides an in-depth look at progress related to newborn health in 90 countries and territories that use the Every Newborn Tracking Tool.