Final answer:
Global poverty and inequality are reflected in high rates of children born underweight and high infant mortality. Contributing factors include malnutrition, lack of healthcare, infectious diseases, and unsafe water. Despite global improvements, the disparity between low- and high-income countries remains significant.
Step-by-step explanation:
Global poverty and inequality are indeed characterized by indicators such as the number of children born dangerously underweight and infant mortality rates (IMR). In low-income countries, children face a significantly higher risk of death within their first five years of life compared to those in high-income countries. Factors such as malnutrition, inadequate healthcare, infectious diseases, and lack of access to clean water exacerbate these risks.
For example, babies born in poorer nations are up to 16 times more likely to die before the age of five than those in wealthier countries. This high mortality rate is often tied to preventable causes, underscoring the importance of interventions such as immunizations, proper nutrition, and access to safe water and sanitation. Malnutrition not only contributes to underweight births but is also linked to about 45 percent of mortality among children under five years old. Additionally, these countries have a malnutrition rate of around 17%, which contrasts sharply with the improved conditions of developed nations.
The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that in 2019, while the global child mortality rate has decreased from previous decades, it remains high in low-income countries, with a rate 11 times higher than that in high-income countries. The frequent causes of death for children under five in these regions, like pneumonia and diarrhea, could often be prevented with affordable healthcare and better living conditions. Consequently, the infant mortality rate is a crucial measure of the overall health and quality of life in a population.