A recent study conducted by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) sheds light on the profound impact of primary health care (PHC) in reducing child mortality rates across Latin America. Published in The Lancet Global Health, the study reveals that over the past two decades, PHC initiatives have prevented more than 300,000 child deaths in four Latin American nations, with the potential to avert an additional 140,000 deaths by 2030, particularly in the face of economic crises.
The 2018 Astana Declaration underscored the pivotal role of PHC in promoting universal health coverage and advancing overall health standards. It emphasized the imperative of evaluating the efficacy of PHC strategies, especially in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), to enhance their effectiveness and sustainability.
Led by ISGlobal researcher Davide Rasella, the study represents the first comprehensive effort to assess the macro-level impact of PHC across Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Mexico, which collectively account for 62% of Latin America’s population. Utilizing retrospective impact evaluations and forecasting models, the research team analyzed PHC coverage data alongside mortality rates among children from birth to five years of age.
The findings underscore the significant reductions in newborn and under-five mortality rates associated with high PHC coverage, particularly in addressing poverty-related conditions and vaccine-preventable diseases. The study’s projections suggest that increasing PHC coverage could prevent tens of thousands of child deaths by 2030, even amid moderate economic crises.
This research assumes added significance against the backdrop of Latin American nations grappling with the socioeconomic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially necessitating fiscal austerity measures. In this context, bolstering PHC initiatives emerges as a critical strategy to safeguard child health and well-being in the region.
