vv Archives of Community Medicine and Public Health ISSN: 2455-5479 DOI CC By 048 Medical Group Citation: Sengupta P, Giri PA, Mohapatra SC (2017) Under-Five Mortality in India: A Muddled Trip through Millennium Development Goal - 4. Arch Community Med Public Health 3(2): 048-053. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17352/2455-5479.000024 Abstract The Millennium Development Goal-4 (MDG-4) had a target of reducing the under-five mortality rate (U5MR) by two-thirds, between 1990 and 2015. When compared to 1990 levels, 17,000 fewer children died each day in 2015. In 2012, UNICEF found that, globally, children born in the poorest 20% of households had only half the chance of surviving to their fifth birthday as children born in the richest 20% of households. Many countries, including India could not attain the MDG-4. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) seeks to build on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and “complete what these did not achieve, “particularly in reaching the most vulnerable. The SDGs are committed to the full realization of all the MDGs, including the off-track MDGs, by providing focused and scaled-up assistance to least developed countries and other countries in special situations, in line with relevant support programs. MDG-4 failed to achieve its single target of reducing child mortality. This review attempts to provide an insight into the under-five mortality in India. Various internet based popular search engines were used to explore data from literature, which includes PubMed, PubMed Central, Google Scholar, Medknow, and Science Direct. Search was made using the key-word combinations “under five mortality” and “millennium development goals” were used. The search was limited to reviews; meta-analyses and assorted reports were retrieved and evaluated. A total of 25 publications were evaluated for this review article. Review Article Under-Five Mortality in India: A Muddled Trip through Millennium Development Goal - 4 Paramita Sengupta 1 , Purushottam A Giri 2 * and Sadhu Charan Mohapatra 3 1 Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, Punjab, India 2 Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Indian Institute of Medical Science & Research Medical College, Badnapur, Jalna, Maharashtra, India 3 Professor & Head, Department of Community Medicine and Dean, Academic Affairs FMHS, SGT University, Gurgaon, Haryana, India Dates: Received: 29 May, 2017; Accepted: 26 June, 2017; Published: 28 June, 2017 *Corresponding author: Purushottam A. Giri, Profes- sor, Department of Community Medicine, Indian Institute of Medical Science & Research Medical College, Badnapur, Jalna, Maharashtra, India, E-mail: Keywords: Under five mortality; Millennium development goals; Sustainable development goals; India https://www.peertechz.com Introduction The under-five mortality rate is a key indicator of child well-being, including health and nutrition status. It is also a key indicator of the coverage of child survival interventions and, more broadly, of social and economic development [1]. Under-five mortality rates fell rapidly from 2000 to 2015, declining by 44 per cent globally, leading to a global under-five mortality rate of 43 per 1,000 live births [1]. Even then about six million children under the age of 5 still died before their fifth birthday in 2015. The neonatal mortality rate declined from 31 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000 to 19 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2015. Neonatal deaths represent a larger share (45 per cent) of all under-five deaths as the progress in the rate of survival among children aged 1 to 59 months outpaced advances in reducing neonatal mortality [1]. The Millennium Development Goal-4 (MDG-4) had a target of reducing the under-five mortality rate (U5MR) by two-thirds, between 1990 and 2015. When compared to 1990 levels, 17,000 fewer children died each day in 2015. Since 2000, measles vaccines have averted nearly 15.6 million deaths and 3 out of 4 births were assisted by skilled health-care personnel [2]. Despite improved global progress, a substantial proportion of under-five deaths were in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia, accounting for as much as four out of every five under- five child deaths in these regions. Children belonging to poor families and of illiterate mothers have more chances of dying before the age of five when compared to those from wealthier families. In 2012, UNICEF found that, globally, children born in the poorest 20% of households had only half the chance of surviving to their fifth birthday as children born in the richest 20% of households [3]. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) seeks to build on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and “complete what these did not achieve, “particularly in reaching the most vulnerable. The SDGs are committed to the full realization of all the MDGs, including the off-track MDGs, by providing focused and scaled-up assistance to least developed countries and other countries in special situations, in line with relevant support programs. MDG-4 failed to achieve its single target of reducing child mortality. Goal-3 of SDGs aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Target 3.2 of SDG-3 is to end preventable deaths of newborn and children under 5 years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births,