The world is not complying with newborns, says UNICEF

NUEVA YORK, February 20, 2018 – Newborn deaths remain alarmingly high globally, especially in the world's poorest countries, UNICEF said today in a new report on neonatal mortality. Babies born in Japan, Iceland, and Singapore have the best chance of survival, while for newborns in Pakistan, the Central African Republic, and Afghanistan the chances are the worst.

“While we have more than halved the number of deaths of children under the age of five in the last quarter-century, we have not made similar progress to end the deaths of children under one month of age,” said Henrietta. H. Fore, Executive Director of UNICEF. "Since most of these deaths are preventable, it is clear that we are not meeting the poorest babies in the world."

Globally, in low-income countries, the average neonatal mortality rate is 27 deaths per 1,000 births, according to the report. In high-income countries, that rate is 3 deaths per 1,000. Newborns in the most dangerous places to give birth are up to 50 times more likely to die than those born in the safest places.

The report also notes that 8 of the 10 most dangerous places to be born are in sub-Saharan Africa, where pregnant women are much less likely to receive assistance during childbirth due to poverty, conflict, and fragile institutions. If a neonatal mortality rate similar to the average in high-income countries were achieved in each country by 2030, 16 million lives could be saved.

Inequality in the possibilities of living[1]

Higher newborn mortality rates VS Lower newborn mortality rates

1. Pakistan: 1 in 22 
1. Japan: 1 in 1,111

2. Central African Republic: 1 in 24
2. Iceland: 1 in 1,000

3. Afghanistan: 1 in 25
3. Singapore: 1 in 909

4. Somalia: 1 in 26
4. Finland: 1 in 833

5. Lesotho: 1 in 26
5. Estonia: 1 in 769

6. Guinea-Bissau: 1 in 26
5. Slovenia: 1 in 769

7. South Sudan: 1 in 26
7. Cyprus: 1 in 714

8. Côte d'Ivoire: 1 in 27 
8. Belarus: 1 in 667
8. Luxembourg: 1 in 667
8. Norway: 1 in 667
8. Republic of Korea: 1 in 667

9. Mali: 1 in 28

10. Chad: 1 in 28

According to the report, more than 80% of newborn deaths are due to premature birth, complications during birth, or infections such as pneumonia and sepsis. These deaths can be prevented with access to well-trained midwives and proven solutions such as clean water, disinfectants, breastfeeding within the first hour after birth, skin-to-skin contact, and good nutrition. However, the shortage of health workers and well-trained midwives means that thousands of people do not receive the vital support they need to survive. For example, while there are 218 doctors, nurses, and midwives in Norway to care for 10,000 people, that ratio is 1 in 10,000 in Somalia.

This month, UNICEF will launch CADA VIDA CUENTA, a global campaign to demand and deliver solutions on behalf of the world's newborns. Through the campaign, UNICEF is urgently calling on governments, health service providers, donors, the private sector, families and businesses to keep all children alive through the following actions:

• Hire, train, retain and manage a sufficient number of doctors, nurses and midwives with experience in the care of the mother and the newborn;

• Guarantee clean and functional health facilities equipped with water, soap and electricity, within the reach of all mothers and babies;

• Make it a priority to provide all mothers and babies with life-saving medicines and equipment necessary for a healthy start in life; and,

• Empower adolescent girls, mothers, and families to demand and receive quality care.

“Every year 2.6 million newborns around the world do not survive their first month of life. One million of them die the day they are born, ”said Ms. Fore. “We know that we can save the vast majority of these babies with solutions that lead to affordable, quality health care for every mother and newborn. Only a few small steps on the part of each one of us could help to guarantee the first small steps of each one of these children ”.

Download photos, footage and the full report here.

For a complete ranking of all countries, click here.