Achieving MDGs 4 and 5: China progress on maternal and child health

China has made great progress in improving maternal and child health (MCH). It reduced maternal deaths from 1,500 per 100,000 live births and over 200 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 1949 to 120 per 100,000 live births and infant deaths to 42 per 1,000 by 1990. Currently China is on track to meet its MDG 5 target of 31 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, and has already achieved its MDG 4 target of reducing child mortality to 16 deaths per 1,000 live births. This note explores the actions China has taken to reduce child and maternal mortality, focusing on key policies and programs since the 1990s.