Morocco’s childbirth mortality rate declined by 4.8% between 1990 and 2022, which contributes significantly to the reduction in the child-under-five overall mortality rate over the past three decades, according to the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) latest report.
The childbirth mortality dropped from 81 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 52 in 2000, then to 17 in 2022.
The research also showed that Morocco’s infant mortality rate has fallen from 64 deaths per 1,000 babies in 1990 to 15 deaths in 2022.
Furthermore, the newborn mortality rate has decreased by 3.9 percent, from 37 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 29 deaths in 2000, and had been projected to reach 11 in 2022.
The male childbirth decreased from 85 cases to 67 between 1990 and 2022, while female childbirth decreased from 19 to 16 cases for the same period.
The risk of mortality among children aged 5-14 years has grown somewhat, from 2 deaths per 1,000 children over five years old in 2000, to 6 deaths in 2022 for the same cohort.
Despite significant progress, the report highlights ongoing challenges in ensuring the survival and well-being of children worldwide.
In 2022, an estimated 4.9 million children under the age of five died–with Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia accounting for nearly 80% of these deaths–and newborns accounting for nearly half. Additionally, another 2.1 million children and youths aged 5-24 died during the same period.
Despite these hurdles, the research notes the impressive progress made by numerous low-and- lower-middle-income nations, the infant mortality rates of which have dropped more rapidly than those of developed countries.
These nations have proven that long-term and deliberate investments in maternal, infant, and child health care may provide considerable returns, particularly in resource-constrained environments.
The UNICEF study advocates for targeted expenditures in accessible, high-quality healthcare. This comprises competent health staff for births, prenatal and postnatal care, care for premature and at-risk infants, and vaccines, along with diagnostic, preventative, and therapeutic interventions to address the leading causes of childhood mortality.