Helpdesk Report: Under Five Mortality in Ethiopia
Abstract
Query
How does the rate of reduction of under five mortality from the DHS results in Ethiopia compare with the rates in other countries? What comparisons can be made to the rate of reduction that was made in the UK?
Summary
The 2006-2010 percentage decrease in under 5 mortality in Ethiopia is significant and among the greatest declines found in this brief search. However, there is some evidence that the percentage decrease may be less than the DHS reports and also some evidence that there was a greater percentage decrease between 2000 and 2005. There have also been greater percentage decreases in other African countries over a similar period. These include Kenya, Tanzania and Egypt.
The UK decrease in under 5 mortality was 8% between 2005 and 2009 so the percentage decrease was lower. There was a 40% decrease in under 5 mortality between 1990 and 2009. Historically, the UK took longer to make progress in lowering mortality rates in terms of the percentage decrease. It took around 20 years during the 18<sup>th</sup> and 19<sup>th</sup> centuries to make the same progress as is possible in 5 years in many developing countries in this century.
Citation
Holley, C. Helpdesk Report: Under Five Mortality in Ethiopia. Human Development Resource Centre, UK (2011) 12 pp.
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