The Tanzanian Ministry of Health revealed how the cause of death statistics for children under five changed between 2022 and 2023 in the East African country.
"Birth asphyxia [lack of oxygen and blood flow to the brain] and birth trauma was among the leading causes death in two years period, with a slight increase from 22.8% to 23.6.4%," the ministry reported in an Annual Health Statistics Tables and Figures 2023 released in the end of 2024.
There were also significant increases in deaths from the following causes:
lower respiratory infections (9.6% to 13.6%);
malaria (4.3% to 6.1%);
protein-energy malnutrition (3.4% to 4.5%).
However, the number of deaths from conditions arising during the perinatal period fell from 29.3% to 11.3%.
The percentages for prematurity and low birth weight, as well as for congenital anomalies, including heart anomalies, remained almost stable, while deaths from diarrhea diseases and infectious diseases increased modestly, the health ministry added.