More children die before their 5th birthday in Sub-Saharan Africa than anywhere else. Children die from infections, neonatal disorders, malnutrition, and many avoidable causes.
This article will discuss why African children die before they reach the age of five. Additionally, we will discuss what mothers, health workers, and government can do to improve the situation. Throughout this article, you will see terms like child or under-five mortality. Under-five mortality rate means a child’s chance of dying before age five expressed per a thousand live births. In 2020, the under-five mortality was 74 per 1000 births in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Under-five mortality is a global problem. However, Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rate of deaths. There is high under-five mortality in this region because there is poor sanitation, mothers are uneducated, families live below the poverty line, and no access to proper health care.
Developed countries have reduced their under-five mortality to 5 deaths per 1000 live births because they have advanced healthcare, the majority have a high income, mothers are educated, and clean water and sanitation are available. If Sub-Saharan Africa can invest in health systems, education, and sanitation, fewer under-five deaths will occur.
What is the cause of the children’s deaths?
The children are dying from neonatal disorders, neonatal tetanus, pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, kwashiorkor, measles, HIV/AIDS, TB, and Meningitis.
What policies have been put in place to decrease under-five mortality? Is it working?
There is the child survival strategy. The child survival strategy aims at reducing the impact of the disease. However, it does not tackle the root cause of the problem. Of course, the Child survival strategy has helped countries affected most to reduce the numbers of under-five deaths, but our society can do more.
If we look at countries like Sweden and Finland, it is not about Child survival strategy but tackling the root cause of deaths in these children; poor sanitation, extreme poverty, uneducated mothers, and rudimentary healthcare systems.
What are the steps in the child survival strategy (CSS)?
The steps in the CSS include growth monitoring, oral rehydration, exclusive breastfeeding, immunization, female education, food fortification, and family planning. These steps have been helpful so far in reducing the deaths of children worldwide. Now let us look at each of these steps and what they try to solve.
Growth monitoring
If we monitor the children’s growth, we can identify abnormal development. Growth monitoring also helps us identify malnutrition, endocrine problems, or any other chronic disease.
To take things a step further, we should educate mothers about the importance of a balanced diet and adequate food portions for children under five. However, many mothers cannot afford food for their children and talkless of a balanced meal. What can the government do? Provide solutions in the comment section. For example, the government can create jobs, provide meals and fruits in primary schools, etc.
Oral rehydration
Oral rehydration helps to tackle diarrhea disease. Oral rehydration is giving children suffering from diarrhea oral rehydration solution ( 6 teaspoons of sugar + ½ teaspoon of salt +1 liter clean water= ORS). The ORS will prevent dehydration and replace lost electrolytes.
This strategy is needed since diarrhea is a major cause of children’s death. However, more focus should be on providing clean sanitation and water and educating mothers about hygiene.
Breastfeeding
Giving children only breast milk is essential until they are six months old. Breast milk provides children with antibodies to fight infection better; it also provides good bacteria to the gut. These bacteria will later protect the children from other deadly infections. We will discuss the benefits of breastfeeding in other articles.
When the child is six months old, you can introduce new food to supplement breast milk.
Immunization
Immunization is another helpful step of CSS. Immunization protects the child and the population from infections. Unfortunately, not everybody has access to vaccines. The government provides free vaccinations in public hospitals, but not everyone is aware, and many people still do not want to get vaccinated.
Immunization coverage is still low for many childhood diseases like measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella. As a result, African children are still dying from these avoidable diseases. Therefore, steps should be put in place to make people understand the values of vaccination, and unvaccinated children should not be allowed in creches and primary schools. This will ensure more people vaccinate their children.
Female education
If women are educated, they will know where to get health information. Furthermore, they will understand the values of hygiene and have more job opportunities. Ultimately, their children will live longer.
Family planning
There should be at least three years gap between each child so that you will give enough attention to each child.
Food fortification
Food fortification aims at reducing death by malnutrition. Food fortification means adding nutrients to food to restore nutrients lost in processed foods.
Another thing that will help is providing child grants to underprivileged mothers so they can provide food for their children.
What are the top 10 countries with the highest Under-five mortality rates?
- Sierra Leone
- The Central African Republic
- Somalia
- Nigeria
- Lesotho
- Chad
- DR Congo
- South Sudan
- Guinea
- Mali
What can mothers do to prevent their children from dying?
Mothers should visit public health facilities regularly because these facilities hold seminars and talks to educate in simple language and local dialects. Additionally, mothers should try to breast milk exclusively for six months, space out births, and upgrade their educational levels.
What can Health workers do?
Health workers should educate mothers, be ready for emergencies, dispense supplements, monitor children’s growth, recognize child abuse, and ensure health facilities are clean and safe for mothers and children.
What can the government do to reduce the under-five mortality rate?
Provide clean water and sanitation, free education for females, improved health standards, child grants to unemployed mothers, food in public schools, and free vaccinations and medications for children under five.
Even though under-five mortality is a global problem, African countries have the highest rate of deaths. This is because these countries are low-income countries with poor sanitation and health care. As a result, many children die due to malnutrition, diarrhea, malaria, and avoidable infections.
Fortunately, Child survival Strategies have reduced the number of deaths significantly. These strategies include female education, family planning, food fortification, growth monitoring, immunization, food fortification, and exclusive breastfeeding.
Although these strategies are helpful, they do not tackle the root cause of children’s death; poverty, poor sanitation, and unsophisticated healthcare systems.
What can be done to reduce the under-five mortality rate in Sub-Saharan Africa? Let us know in the comment section below.
References
MABS 
This article is comprehensive and lucid in talking about the under-five death in Africa.
In regards to that, child mortality rate should be stretched beyond the birthed child, rather be checked in the area of the condition of the mother carrying the child before conceiving. Moreover the desire of a mother to conceive a healthy bouncing child is absolutely paramount, reason why the society should prioritize the commitment in the ease of maternity experiences.
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