Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41524238›Full record

ArticleJournal of global health2026

Reducing urban-rural disparities in maternal and child mortality in China: a 33-year analysis and projection to 2030.

Zuyao Rao, Bei Liu, Dehai Li, Zemin Qing, Yuxuan Lu, Dandan Yin, Shen Li, Kai Cheng, Yunpengcheng Xiao, Qiong Dai

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of global health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Zuyao Rao *Department of Health, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Bei Liu *Department of health education, Jinan Health Publicity and Education Center, Jinan, China.
Dehai Li *Department of Health, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Zemin QingDepartment of Health, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Yuxuan LuDepartment of Health, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Dandan YinDepartment of Health, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Shen LiDepartment of Health, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Kai ChengDepartment of Health, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Yunpengcheng XiaoDepartment of Health, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Qiong DaiDepartment of Health, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Despite substantial progress in maternal and child health (MCH) in China, achieving equitable outcomes across urban and rural areas remains elusive. To this end, this study investigated long-term trends in urban-rural disparities in maternal and child mortality rates in China from 1991 to 2023 and projected future trajectories for the 2024-30 period. Methods: We obtained data on national, urban, and rural maternal mortality ratios (MMRs), under-five mortality rates (U5MRs), infant mortality rates (IMRs), and neonatal mortality rates (NMRs) for the 1991-2023 period from the National Bureau of Statistics of China. We analysed and predicted mortality rates during this period by utilising rate differences (RDs), rate ratios (RRs), average growth rates, and estimated annual percentage changes, along with the autoregressive integrated moving average model. Results: From 1991 to 2023, the national MMRs declined from 80 per 100 000 live births to 15.1 per 100 000 live births. Over the same period, U5MRs decreased from 61.0‰ to 6.2‰, IMRs declined from 50.2‰ to 4.5‰, and NMRs declined from 33.1‰ to 2.8‰. During this period, urban MMRs decreased from 46.3 per 100 000 live births to 12.5 per 100 000 live births. Correspondingly, urban U5MRs declined from 20.9‰ to 3.9‰, IMRs declined from 17.3‰ to 2.9‰, and NMRs declined from 12.5‰ to 1.7‰. In rural areas, MMRs declined from 100 per 100 000 live births to 17.0 per 100 000 live births, while U5MRs declined from 71.1‰ to 7.2‰, IMRs declined from 58.0‰ to 5.2‰, and NMRs declined from 37.9‰ to 3.2‰. The RDs and RRs of MMRs, U5MRs, IMRs, and NMRs exhibited overall downward trends, while the autoregressive integrated moving average model predicted continued declines in mortality rates across the country, including in urban and rural areas, from 2024 to 2030. Conclusions: China has achieved substantial progress in MCH, with mortality rates and disparities falling in both urban and rural areas, yet urban-rural disparities persist. Future MCH services should shift from broad coverage to precision quality improvement. These experiences also offer valuable insights for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) undergoing rapid urbanisation, highlighting the importance of coordinated development of urban and rural health systems to achieve equitable and accessible health outcomes.

Indexed as

Child MortalityHealth Status DisparitiesInfant MortalityMaternal MortalityRural PopulationUrban PopulationChild, PreschoolChinaFemaleForecastingHumansInfantInfant, Newborn

Identifiers

PMID41524238
PMCPMC12796867

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.