A/HRC/22/31 for a human rights-based approach to preventable maternal mortality and morbidity has been recognized by the Human Rights Council. 2 29. Maternal and child undernutrition, conditions that are inextricably linked, is estimated to be responsible for 35 per cent of child deaths and 11 per cent of the total global disease burden. Adequate nutrition and nutritional supplements for pregnant women are critical to ensure healthy foetal and infant development, and to reduce the child’s susceptibility to infectious diseases in infancy and chronic diseases in adulthood. 30. In 2010, almost 2.8 million deaths were attributable to neonatal mortality (deaths in children aged from 0 to 27 days). Pre-term birth complications, intrapartum-related complications, infections, maternal hypertension, diabetes and foetal growth restriction are responsible for most cases of stillbirth and neonatal death. Improved pregnancy monitoring and the early prevention, detection and management of complications have a positive impact on the health and survival of women and newborn children. 31. More than 90 per cent of children with HIV have been infected through mother-tochild transmission, which can be prevented with antiretroviral drugs, as well as safer delivery and feeding practices. Voluntary HIV counselling and testing, coupled with links to infant HIV diagnosis services and long-term HIV care and treatment services for women and infants, as required, can reduce HIV transmission and promote access to needed services. 32. Increasing skilled attendance at birth and access to emergency obstetric care services can improve child survival by reducing stillbirths and saving maternal and newborn lives. Postnatal care should include, at a minimum, early and exclusive breastfeeding, keeping the baby warm, more frequent hand-washing and hygienic umbilical cord and skin care, identifying conditions requiring additional care, and counselling on when to take a newborn to a health facility. Furthermore, breastfeeding has a positive impact on many areas of child health since, in addition to its nutritional value, it strengthens the infant’s immune system thus preventing a wide range of infections. B. Child mortality 33. In children aged from one to 59 months, the leading causes of death are pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria; injuries and congenital abnormalities are also important causes of mortality.3 The primary causes of child mortality also lead to sickness in millions of children every year. Almost half of the global burden of disease in children aged from 0 to 4 years is attributable to seven infectious diseases: lower respiratory infections (including pneumonia), diarrhoeal diseases, malaria, measles, pertussis, HIV/ AIDS and tetanus. 34. Global figures nonetheless mask important regional differences, and national statistics hide subnational variations in health. The risk of a child dying before his or her fifth birthday in low-income countries is 18 times higher than in high-income countries; in all settings, this risk is higher in rural areas, less educated communities and poorer households.4 35. More than two thirds of cases of mortality among children under 5 years of age are due to diseases that are preventable and treatable through simple, affordable interventions. 2 3 4 8 See Human Rights Council resolutions 11/8, 15/17, 18/12 and 21/6. UNICEF. A Promise Renewed, 2012. Available from www.apromiserenewed.org/files/APR_Brochure_September12.pdf. See www.who.int/maternal_child_adolescent/epidemiology/child/en/index.html.