UNICEF and Save the Children Child Health Spotlights

Country data on primary health care approaches to the prevention and care of pneumonia and diarrhoea

June 24, 2022

Pneumonia and diarrhoea together account for 23 per cent of all child deaths globally among children under the age of five. They disproportionally affect poor and marginalized children, often living in fragile or humanitarian settings, who face multiple deprivations and risks, including food insecurity and lack of access to good-quality health care, safe water, and sanitation.

Investment and progress to reduce child deaths from pneumonia and diarrhoea are crucial for countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target for child survival of fewer than 25 deaths of children under five per 1,000 live births.

Primary Health Care (PHC) is the most efficient and effective way to achieve health for all. Resting on three pillars – integrated health services, multisectoral policy and action, and empowered people and communities – PHC provides a comprehensive approach to delivering preventive, protective and curative care for high-burden diseases, such as pneumonia and diarrhoea. A collaboration between UNICEF and Save the Children, these Child Health Spotlight Country Profiles aim to provide key data on all three pillars and show where urgent action is needed to protect, prevent, diagnose, and treat the leading causes of child deaths.

These spotlight country profiles feature the most up-to-date country data from household surveys, global estimates and global policy surveys. The data have been compiled, validated, and visualized to support the comprehensive understanding of pneumonia, diarrhoea and child health epidemiology and programmes in-country. Additional countries might be added over the coming months, the data will be updated periodically.

The spotlight country profiles contain key data on the continuum of pneumonia and diarrhoea prevention, protection and care through a PHC approach. By generating comprehensive but easy-to-access datasets, the spotlights are intended to help inform policy and decision-making at a national and global level. They are designed to be used by advocates, decision-makers, ministry officials and anyone wishing to communicate, advocate and demand action to tackle the leading threats to child survival.