Reducing child mortality and achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Bangladesh

Background: Child death is often seen as the criteria of success and failure of a nation. In 1990, the under-five mortality rate in Bangladesh was 151 per thousand live births. To achieve the Millennium Development Goal (MDG), it should be reduced to 50 by 2015. The study attempts to analyze the trends of child mortality and assess the proximate and socio-economic determinants of child mortality as well as evaluate the role of governmental interventions in reducing child mortality in Bangladesh. Method: This is a literature review based on reports, national surveys (Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey), journals and books. Results: Since 1970s, the rate of child death has fallen rapidly. The under-five mortality rate was reduced from 151 per thousand live births in 1990 to 69 per thousand live births in 2006. There are wide variations in child mortality across the country. The under-five mortality continued to decline thanks primarily to the substantial decline (20%) in child mortality (age 1-4 years) over the past five years from 2004. One in every eleven Bangladeshi children dies before reaching age five while one in fifteen children dies before reaching the first birthday in 2004. Child malnutrition, Immunization, birth intervals, sex differentials, education, and household wealth are the proximate determinants of child mortality. Conclusions: Bangladesh is on track to progress towards the MDG target. It is possible for Bangladesh to attain the child death related MDG by effectively implementing a package of interventions which includes strong economic growth, women education, family planning program which motivate women to delay child bearing and expanded immunization coverage.