Status of child health worldwide

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article is to summarize some of the facts about child health and goals of international health organizations. DATA SOURCES: The sources included the publications of World Health Organization's (WHO), United Nations Children Fund, and United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organizations; and journal articles. DATA EXTRACTION: Data on areas related to child health were obtained from various publications. DATA SYNTHESIS: Although childhood mortality continues to fall worldwide, nearly 14 million children under five years of age still die annually in developing countries. Diarrhea, measles, tetanus, pertussis, pneumonia, and malnutrition are preventable and treatable and yet account for the majority of deaths. AIDS has begun to substantially affect the pediatric population. It is encouraging that the WHO's goal to immunize 80 percent of all children in the developing world has been met. The World Summit for Children, in consultation with governments of 159 countries, and the agencies of the United Nations, has adopted new goals to be attained by the year 2000. CONCLUSIONS: It is hoped that governmental and nongovernmental agencies will embrace these goals and formulate plans to markedly reduce childhood morbidity and mortality.