Home / Health / Million Kids Died Before 5 in 2023: Growth Failure Cited
Million Kids Died Before 5 in 2023: Growth Failure Cited
4 Dec
Summary
- A million children under five died in 2023 from growth issues.
- Nigeria and India reported the highest number of deaths.
- Global deaths from growth failure reduced significantly since 2000.
In 2023, a staggering one million children worldwide passed away before their fifth birthday, primarily due to issues related to child growth failure. Factors like being underweight, stunted, or wasted were identified as critical contributors to these deaths. Nigeria and India faced the grim reality of the highest mortality rates, with hundreds of thousands of young lives lost.
These findings, derived from the Global Burden of Disease Study, reveal that while global deaths from child growth failure have seen a substantial reduction from 2.75 million in 2000 to 0.8 million in 2023, sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia remain severely impacted.
The complex drivers of child growth failure, including feeding problems, food insecurity, climate change, and lack of sanitation, necessitate multifaceted solutions. Interventions before and during pregnancy are crucial, as many growth failures manifest early in life, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive child health strategies.
