32% The proportion of under-five deaths occurring in South Asia due to poor perinatal care
Millennium Development Goal 4 : Reduce child mortality
Target : Reduce by two thirds the mortality rate among children under five
The causes
In South Asia, poor perinatal care is the leading reason for children under five dying, accounting for almost one third of all their deaths. Acute respiratory infections and diarrhoea are the other main killers. In proportionate terms, diarrhoea as a single proximate cause of child deaths is at its worst in the South Asia region.
According to the latest available statistics, HIV/AIDS is not yet a major cause of child mortality in the region; only 1 per cent of deaths are
linked to the disease. However, rates of HIV infection are likely to increase in the coming years, adding to the burden faced by the region in its attempts to reduce child mortality.
