British babies ‘more likely to die before first birthday’ than in any other developed countries
Louisa Sherlock
Associate EditorThere’s been an ‘appalling decline’ in the health of children aged five and under, with chihd deaths rising, warns a new report
Babies born in the UK are more likely to die before their first birthday, compared to those in other developed countries – including Australia and most of Europe.
The new report from the Academy of Medical Sciences also found 20% of children in the UK are overweight or obese by the age of five. By the same age, one in four also suffer from tooth decay.
The findings have led experts to call for urgent action, with one of the report’s authors saying the lack of progress on child health is ‘betraying our children’.
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Four deaths per 1,000 births in the UK
Experts from the Academy of Medical Sciences, which represents medical scientists and health researchers, ranked the UK 30th out of 49 developed countries for infant mortality. This means British babies are less likely to reach their first birthday than 60% of other 'rich' countries.
America and Canada ranked below the UK.
The report used data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
It found there were four deaths per 1,000 births in the UK between 2019 and 2022. This compared to Japan where there were 1.7 deaths per 1,000 births.
'Child deaths are rising'
And experts are warning that children’s health has stalled since the pandemic.
The report also found:
- One in five children is behind the expected level of development aged two
- Vaccination targets are being missed for diseases such as measles
- One in five women struggles with their mental health during pregnancy, or just after
- There’s a growing demand for child mental health services
- Air pollution is linked to worsening asthma in children
Professor Helen Minnis, one of the report's authors, said: 'Child deaths are rising, infant survival lags behind comparable countries, and preventable physical and mental health issues plague our youngest citizens.
'Unless the health of babies and young children is urgently prioritised, we condemn many to a life of poorer health and lost potential. The time to act is now.'
What's behind the decline in children's health?
The report authors say the Covid pandemic is partly to blame, along with the ongoing cost of living crisis. And they say a rise in child poverty and surge in mental health issues is also contributing to children's worsening health.
Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, co-chairman from the University of Oxford, told The Telegraph: 'There are huge challenges for the NHS today.
'Even more disconcerting is the evidence cited in our Academy of Medical Sciences report of an appalling decline in the health of our children, which makes for an even more bleak outlook for their future.
'There is clear evidence in the report that tackling childhood health conditions, addressing inequalities and providing early years social support can change the future of health and prosperity.'
What needs to change?
Experts say much more needs to be done to tackle issues including infant deaths, childhood obesity and tooth decay among young children.
A government spokeswoman told the BBC: 'We've taken significant action to improve children's health now and in the long term.
'This includes measures to reduce sugar in children's food and investing in mental health services and dentistry.'
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