The World Health Organization released its annual World Health Statistics report. In the report the WHO looked at all of its global regions to see how countries fared in various global data stats  including maternal and child mortality, life expectancy, and health coverage as examples.

“Intensive efforts to achieve the MDGs have clearly improved health for people all over the world,” says Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO. “But with less than 1000 days to go to reach the MDG deadline, it is timely to ask if these efforts have made a difference in reducing the unacceptable inequities between the richest and poorest countries.”

Since I am in India with Nicole Melancon to visit some of Mom Bloggers for Social Good’s key partners I have decided to look at India’s health statistics from the report. Overall, however, globally the shift between rich and poor countries is narrowing, but not quickly enough.

India

Life Expectancy for Both Sexes: 

1990: 58

2011: 65

Mortality 

• Stillbirth Rate in 2009: 22 per 1000 livebirths
• Neonatal Mortality Rate: 47 per 1000 live births in 1990; 32 per 1000 live births in 2011
• Under Five Mortality Rate: 114 per 1000 live births in 1990; 88 per 1000 live births in 2000;  61 per 1000 live births in 2011
• Specific Causes of Mortality: In India pneumonia and prematurity claims the greatest lives for children under the age of five

Infectious Diseases: By far the greatest infectious disease in India is tuberculosis with 1,323,949 cases in 2011.

Health Coverage: India has a 21% unmet need for family planning and 55% contraceptive coverage. India has 75% antenatal care coverage with one visit. That percentage drops sharply to 50% with four visits. Only 58% of women in India give birth with a skilled birth attendant.

You can read more health statistics for each country at http://apps.who.int.

Photo: United Nations