Levels and Trends in Child Mortality: Report 2020

COVID-19 is threatening decades of progress towards eliminating preventable childhood deaths the Levels and Trends in Child Mortality 2020 report finds. While under-five deaths were at an all-time low in 2019, totaling 5.2 million, this trend can be halted by disruptions to child and maternal health services due to the pandemic.

The most commonly reported reasons for health service disruptions included parents avoiding health centers for fear of infection; transport restrictions; suspension or closure of services and facilities; fewer healthcare workers due to diversions or fear of infection due to shortages in personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves; and greater financial difficulties.