👶 Sharp global decline in neonatal tetanus

👶 Sharp global decline in neonatal tetanus

The number of reported cases of neonatal tetanus has decreased by 89 percent between 2000 and 2021. 47 of 59 priority countries have achieved WHO's goals to eliminate tetanus in mothers and newborns.

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  • The number of reported cases of neonatal tetanus has decreased by 89 percent between 2000 and 2021.
  • 47 of 59 priority countries have achieved WHO's goals to eliminate tetanus in mothers and newborns.
  • The proportion of births assisted by trained healthcare workers has increased in 12 countries, including Afghanistan, India and Nigeria.

Successful vaccination strategy

The World Health Organization reports a significant decrease in neonatal tetanus over the past two decades. The number of reported cases has dropped from 17,935 in 2000 to 1,995 cases in 2021. During the same period, the estimated number of deaths from tetanus in newborns decreased from 46,898 to 7,719.

Between 2000 and 2022, 52 countries conducted special vaccination campaigns that reached 177 million women of reproductive age. During 2021-2022, an additional 13 million women were vaccinated through targeted efforts in seven countries. The proportion of newborns protected against tetanus at birth has increased from 74 percent in 2000 to 86 percent in 2022.

More deliveries with trained staff

An important part of the work is to increase the proportion of deliveries assisted by trained healthcare personnel. Of the 47 countries that reported data for 2022, 26 countries had achieved the goal that at least 70 percent of births should take place with trained staff present. Twelve countries, including Afghanistan, India and Nigeria, have shown improvements since 2020.

A number of countries still face obstacles in their work. Political instability and conflicts make access to vaccines and safe deliveries difficult in some areas. Of the 47 countries that have achieved WHO's elimination goals, only one-third have maintained vaccination coverage above 80 percent among pregnant women.

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