Child Neurology in Africa

The World Health Organization estimates that children in low-income countries are 16 times more likely to die before approximately 5 years of age than children in high-income countries (http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/82058/1/WHO_HIS_HSI_13.1_eng.pdf). Almost 75% of childhood deaths are caused by just 6 conditions: neonatal causes (preterm birth, asphyxia, and infections), pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and measles. Amongst resource-limited nations, the burden is heavily skewed toward Africa, where almost half of these childhood deaths occur. Of the survivors of these conditions, many develop neurologic complications.
Source: Seminars in Pediatric Neurology - Category: Neurology Authors: Source Type: research