Tough births, infections kill nearly 76,000 kids under five

Complications linked to births and infections kill nearly 76,000 children under the age of five every year in Europe and Central Asia and is "backsliding" on some health indicators, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said yesterday.

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In 2022, the death of 75,647 children before their fifth birthday was recorded in the WHO's European region – which comprises 53 countries, including several in Central Asia.

The top five causes of death were "preterm birth complications, birth asphyxia, congenital heart anomalies, lower respiratory infections, and neonatal sepsis", the health body said in a report.

The region is known for strong health systems but "is largely stagnating or even backsliding on a range of indicators from child and adolescent health to chronic diseases", the WHO said.