Child mortalities is a term used to describe the number of deaths among children under the age of five. In phonetic transcription, the word is pronounced as /tʃaɪld mɔːtælɪtiz/. The 'ch' sound is pronounced as 'tch', the 'o' in 'mortalities' sounds like 'aw', and the letter 'i' in the second syllable is pronounced as 'ih'. The plural form of 'mortality' is spelled as 'mortalities', emphasizing the severity and number of child deaths. The reduction of child mortality is a key goal for improving global health.
Child mortalities refer to the number of deaths occurring among children within a certain age range, often considered to be from birth up until the age of 5 years. This measure is used to assess the rate and causes of death among children in a given population or region.
Understanding the extent of child mortalities is crucial for public health analysis, policy-making, and program development. It serves as an indicator of the overall health and well-being of children within a population. High child mortality rates generally indicate the presence of poor healthcare services, inadequate nutrition, insufficient access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities, as well as other socioeconomic factors that adversely affect child survival.
Child mortalities can be expressed as a mortality rate, which is calculated by dividing the number of deaths of children within a specified age group by the total number of live births during a specific period, usually a year. This rate is usually presented per 1,000 live births.
Efforts to reduce child mortalities involve various strategies, including improving maternal and child healthcare services, increasing nutrition and access to clean water, promoting immunization programs, ensuring appropriate environmental and housing conditions, and addressing the underlying socioeconomic determinants of child health and survival.
Monitoring child mortality rates allows for the evaluation of the effectiveness of interventions and policies, helps identify areas that require additional attention and resources, and contributes to the development of targeted strategies to reduce child deaths and improve overall child health outcomes.
The word "child mortalities" is not a distinct word or phrase with its own etymology. Rather, it is a combination of two separate words: "child" and "mortalities".
The word "child" is derived from the Middle English "child" or "childer", which can be traced back to Old English "cild" or "cildru". These Old English terms likely have Germanic origins.
The term "mortalities" is derived from the word "mortality", which arises from the Latin word "mortalitas". "Mortalitas" refers to the state of being mortal or subject to death.
When these words are combined, "child mortalities" refers to the deaths of children or child mortality. The etymology of each individual word contributes to the meaning of the phrase as a whole.