Infant and Maternal Mortality: How is the world doing on these Millennium Development Goals?

The two maps, above, show the change in Under-five Mortality Rate and the change in Maternal Mortality Ratio during the time period 1990 to 2013 across the world.

According to World Health Organisation, between 1990 and 2013 globally, under-five mortality rates declined by 49 per cent (the target is 67 per cent reduction by 2015) and maternal mortality ratios declined by 45% (the target is 75% reduction by 2015).

Under-five Mortality Rate (U5MR)

Under-five mortality rate is the number of under-five deaths during a given time period per 1,000 live births during the same time period.

One of the main goals pursued by WHO to reduce under-five mortality is measles immunisation coverage.

The image, above, shows the correlation between the measles immunisation coverage among 1 year-olds and Under-five Mortality Rate.

Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR)

Maternal mortality ratio is the number of maternal deaths during a given time period per 100,000 live births during the same time period. 

To reduce maternal mortality, the goal pursued by WHO is the births attended by skilled health personnel. 

The image, above, shows the correlation between the Births attended by skilled health personnel (%) and Maternal Mortality Ratio.

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