THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S CHILDREN 2004 - Unicef

General note on the data
The data presented in the following statistical tables
are accompanied by definitions, sources and
explanations of symbols. Data from the responsible
United Nations agencies have been used whenever
possible. Where such internationally standardized
estimates do not exist, the tables draw on other
sources, particularly data received from the
appropriate UNICEF field office. Where possible,
only comprehensive or representative national
data have been used.
Data quality is likely to be adversely affected for
countries that have recently suffered from man-made
or natural disasters. This is particularly so where
basic country infrastructure has been fragmented
or major population movements have occurred.
Several of the indicators, such as the data for life
expectancy, total fertility rates and crude birth and
death rates, are part of the regular work on estimates
and projections undertaken by the United Nations
Population Division. These and other internationally
produced estimates are revised periodically, which
explains why some of the data will differ from those
found in earlier UNICEF publications.
Two new statistical tables have been introduced this
year that provide data on HIV/AIDS and child protection.
HIV/AIDS indicators in table 4 are an extension
of those appearing in the last report, and now cover
all countries. Table 9 on child protection includes
data for a more limited set of countries on child
labour, birth registration and female genital mutilation.
More details on these indicators are included
in the notes following each of the tables.
In addition, substantial changes have been made to
tables 2, 3, 5 and 8. In table 2, the data on low birthweight
have undergone a major revision. Recent
data from national household surveys have indicated
that two thirds of infants in the developing world are
not weighed. Household survey data, particularly
from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS)
and the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS),
allow for some adjustments to be made to correct
for this based on mothers’ assessment of size at
birth as well as corrections for the misreporting of
birthweights by multiples of 500 grams. Data in table
2 reflect these adjustments for countries that had MICS
or DHS data on low birthweight. As a result, the estimates
are generally higher than previously reported.
Data appear for the first time on acute respiratory infection
(ARI), a primary killer of children under five.
Appropriate treatment of ARI is therefore of critical
importance to reducing under-five mortality and improving
children’s health. Table 3 presents data on
the prevalence of ARI and whether children with ARI
were taken to an appropriate health provider. In table
5, in addition to administrative data on primary
school entrants reaching grade 5, household
survey data on this indicator are also included.
Table 8 includes two columns on maternal mortality
ratio. One column presents data reported by national
authorities; the other presents data that include
adjustments for the well-documented problems of
underreporting and misclassification of maternal
deaths, and also provide estimates for countries
with no data.
Explanation of symbols
Since the aim of this statistics chapter is to provide a
broad picture of the situation of children and women
worldwide, detailed data qualifications and footnotes
are seen as more appropriate for inclusion elsewhere.
The following symbols are common across all tables;
symbols specific to a particular table are included in
the table’s footnotes:
- Indicates data are not available.
x
Indicates data that refer to years or periods other
than those specified in the column heading, differ
from the standard definition, or refer to only part
of a country. Such data are not included in the
regional averages or totals.
* Data refer to the most recent year available during
the period specified in the column heading.
100 STATISTICAL TABLES