China has distinguished itself as a leader in reducing child mortality within upper-middle-income nations, according to a health official's remarks on Friday. Shen Haiping, who heads the maternal and child health department of the National Health Commission, reported that the country's infant mortality rate is currently four deaths per 1,000 live births, and the under-five mortality rate has decreased to 5.6 per 1,000 for 2024, reflecting unprecedented improvements.
Additionally, the average annual decline in these mortality rates positions China third and fourth among 53 upper-middle-income countries, respectively. From 2010 to 2023, China's average life expectancy increased by 3.8 years, with approximately 21.7 percent of this advancement linked to reductions in under-five mortality.
Currently, there are over 8,000 general hospitals in China that offer pediatric services. Approximately 98 percent of county-level hospitals now have pediatric departments, and more than 80 percent of local healthcare facilities are equipped to treat common pediatric illnesses. There is an ongoing national initiative to enhance the child-friendliness of hospitals, which includes making consultation areas more accessible and decorating facilities in an engaging manner. The objective is to establish 2,000 child-friendly hospitals by the end of the year and ensure that by 2030, 90 percent of medical institutions provide pediatric services in a child-friendly environment.
Shen emphasized the establishment of a comprehensive healthcare system focusing on prevalent pediatric conditions, including myopia, obesity, malnutrition, and autism. Recent data indicates a decline in obesity rates among children under six, although the rate is increasing in those aged six to 17. Consequently, there has been a renewed focus on educational efforts to combat childhood obesity and enhance health management among young children.
In terms of eye health, the coverage for care and vision screenings for children aged six and under has reached 95.4 percent, with a noted decrease in the overall myopia rate among children and adolescents in China. Furthermore, free human papillomavirus vaccines are now available to 60 percent of girls in the eligible age group, typically between nine and 14 years old.
When compared to data from five years prior, both infant and under-five mortality rates attributed to birth defects have fallen by over 30 percent, while the occurrence of severe birth defects such as neural tube defects and Down syndrome has decreased by 21 percent. The rate of mother-to-child transmission of HIV has also reached a historic low of 1.2 percent. Shen concluded by stating that the key child health metrics of the nation are showing continuous improvement.
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