Child mortality study cites Egyptian gain, Iraqi decline

Egypt made the most progress among developing countries in reducing deaths of children younger than 5 from 1990 to 2005, while Iraq deteriorated the most, a U.S.-based charity reported Tuesday.

Save the Children tracked child mortality trends in 60 developing countries during the 15-year period. Twenty made no progress in reducing deaths or had higher death rates.

The 60 countries accounted for 94% of child deaths worldwide, the report says. About 10.2 million children younger than 5 die annually around the world -- 99% of them in developing nations amid poverty, disease and malnutrition, with 28,000 deaths a day.

Nearly three-quarters of all such deaths were due to pneumonia, diarrhea and newborn disorders such as premature birth, birth asphyxia and birth defects, the report says.

Deaths of children younger than 5 declined 68% in Egypt from 1990 to 2005, the report says. Iraq, gripped by war since a U.S.-led invasion in March 2003 and subjected to years of economic sanctions before that, had a 150% increase in child mortality, it adds.

“Even before the latest war, Iraqi mothers and children were facing a grave humanitarian crisis caused by years of repression, conflict and external sanctions,” the report says.

Wartime electricity shortages, insufficient clean water, deteriorating health services and soaring inflation have worsened already difficult living conditions, it says.

In 2005, it adds, 122,000 Iraqi children -- one in eight -- died before age 5.

The report also ranks 140 countries for how good they are for mothers and children, based on a number of factors. Sweden, Iceland and Norway were at the top. The U.S. placed 26th, tied with Hungary. Niger was last.