Philippines improves on MDG for infant, toddler deaths

MANILA – The Philippines is likely to meet the Millennium Development Goal on reducing the number of children dying before reaching age of five by 2015, the National Statistics Office said on Monday.

Based on the 2011 Family Health Survey, the NSO said an estimated 30 children for every 1,000 live births will likely die before reaching age five, lower than the 34 deaths in 2008. In 1993, the number of deaths reached 64.

Similarly, the estimate of infant mortality rate or the probability of a child born on a specified year and dying before reaching the age of one year declined to 22 deaths per 1,000 live births last year from 24 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2006.

From 38 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1993, the IMR also dropped to 29 deaths in 2003.

The NSO said the current levels of both infant and under-five mortality in the Philippines reflect progress in government efforts at improving the health conditions of children.

“If the trend will continue, the country will be able to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of reducing the national U-5MR by two-thirds or only 19 deaths per 1,000 live births,” the NSO said.

Among the regions in the country, Metro Manila recorded the lowest IMR of only 14 deaths per 1,000 live births and under-five mortality rate (U-5MR) of 20 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Eastern Visayas recorded the highest IMR of 40 deaths per 1,000 live births and U-5MR of 53 deaths per 1,000 live births.

The 2011 FHS is a nationwide survey of 53,162 sample households. A total of 52,769 women of reproductive age (15-49 years old) were interviewed to collect data on fertility, family planning practice, maternal and child health and, maternal and child mortality.

The survey was funded by the United States Agency for International Development. –Darwin G. Amojelar, InterAksyon.com