Maternal and Child Health


Acting on the Call. A woman reads from a booklet to another woman with two children.
Read the Acting on the Call Report [PDF, 10MB]
Photo credit: Kate Holt/MCSP

Since 1990, the lives of an estimated 100 million children have been saved, due in part to the efforts of USAID. Around the globe, 18,000 more children and 650 more mothers will survive today than each day in 1990.

Despite this progress, 5.9 million children under-5 still die each year, almost 1 million of them on their first day of life, and 303,000 women die annually during what should be one of the happiest days in their life.

Since 2008 alone, U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID's) maternal and child survival efforts in 25 priority countries have saved the lives of 4.6 million children and 200,000 women.

The vast majority of these deaths are caused by complications and illnesses for which there are known, affordable treatments. Together with country partners, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations from around the globe, USAID is working to improve maternal and child survival, in support of the global movement Every Woman Every Child. USAID's Acting on the Call reports detail the U.S. Government's commitment to this goal and approach to achieving it, identifying best-practice interventions with the greatest potential for lifesaving impact when expanded. The reports formulate a roadmap for using data-driven decisions and targeted investments to save 15 million children and 600,000 women by 2020.

To reach this goal, USAID works to improve the accessibility and quality of basic interventions that can save, and have saved, millions of lives, focusing on five key areas:

USAID works in 25 countries globally that together account for more than two-thirds of maternal and child deaths worldwide. These countries were selected due to the severity and magnitude of maternal and child mortality, the level of country commitment, and the potential to leverage U.S. Government programs, as well as those of other partners and donors.

Under-5 Child Mortality Rates in USAID's 25 Priority Countries for Maternal and Child Health, 2015

  •  

    <50

  •  

    50-74

  •  

    75-90

  •  

    >100

 

View data list »

  • Afghanistan
    Under-5 mortality Rate: 91/1000
  • Bangladesh
    Under-5 mortality Rate: 38/1,000
  • DRC
    Under-5 mortality Rate: 98/1,000
  • Ethiopia
    Under-5 mortality Rate: 59/1,000
  • Ghana
    Under-5 mortality Rate: 62/1,000
  • Haiti
    Under-5 mortality Rate: 69/1,000
  • India
    Under-5 mortality Rate: 48/1,000
  • Indonesia
    Under-5 mortality Rate: 27/1,000
  • Kenya
    Under-5 mortality Rate: 49/1,000
  • Liberia
    Under-5 mortality Rate: 70/1,000
  • Madagascar
    Under-5 mortality Rate: 50/1,000
  • Malawi
    Under-5 mortality Rate: 64/1,000
  • Mali
    Under-5 mortality Rate: 115/1,000
  • Mozambique
    Under-5 mortality Rate: 79/1,000
  • Myanmar
    Under-5 mortality Rate: 50/1,000
  • Nepal
    Under-5 mortality Rate: 36/1,000
  • Nigeria
    Under-5 mortality Rate: 109/1,000
  • Pakistan
    Under-5 mortality Rate: 81/1,000
  • Rwanda
    Under-5 mortality Rate: 42/1,000
  • Senegal
    Under-5 mortality Rate: 47/1,000
  • South Sudan
    Under-5 mortality Rate: 93/1,000
  • Tanzania
    Under-5 mortality Rate: 49/1,000
  • Uganda
    Under-5 mortality Rate: 55/1,000
  • Yemen
    Under-5 mortality Rate: 42/1,000
  • Zambia
    Under-5 mortality Rate: 64/1,000

Under-5 Mortality Rates are taken from the A Promise Renewed Report, [PDF, 12.9MB] 2015.

* Under-5 Mortality Rates out of 1,000 live births

The U.S. Government has invested over $15 billion since 2008 in a series of innovative measures designed to accelerate reductions in mortality rates, working closely with countries and international partners in a variety of sectors. USAID works to identify and scale up those interventions proven to be effective in saving the lives of mothers and children, and invests in new technologies, procedures, and approaches to increase the efficiency and sustainability of our efforts.

We are working to ensure women and children have the same chance of survival, regardless of where they are born. Our goal is ambitious, and will require significant and sustained commitment from USAID as well as its partners. But as governments, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector increasingly recognize the imperative of maternal and child health, more than ever before, our goal is achievable.

Related Resources

Acting on the Call Report
Ending Preventable Maternal Mortality: USAID Maternal Health Vision for Action
Global Health Report to Congress

More information on USAID's Maternal and Child Health program:

Countries
Multimedia
Projects
Publications
Technical Areas:

Child Health
Immunization [coming soon]
Maternal Health
Newborn Health
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Related Sectors of Work 
Global Health