INTRODUCTION:
A country's social and environmental conditions reflect on population health, especially in early childhood. Monitoring child health indicators enables challenge mitigation and prioritization of well-being interventions. This study performed a joint and comparative analysis of child health indicators from countries participating in the 6th round of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS6).

METHODS:
This cross-sectional study, conducted from April to July 2024, utilized aggregated UNICEF data from MICS6-participating countries reporting infant mortality, complete vaccination coverage, skilled childbirth care, low birth weight prevalence, and safe drinking water access. The Human Development Index (HDI) served as an additional indicator. Statistical analyses comprised multiple linear regression and Pearson’s correlation.

RESULTS:
Among 72 countries and territories, 58 underwent inferential and descriptive analyses, with 39 (complete data) assessed qualitatively, representing the following regions: Africa (n=17), Asia (n=13), Oceania (n=5), Central America (n=2), South America (n=1) and Europe (n=1). Access to safe drinking water (β = -0.63; 95% CI: -1.11 to -0.14; P=0.013) and HDI (β =-101.18; 95% CI: -175.03 to -27.32; P=0.008) showed significant inverse associations with infant mortality risk. Strongest correlations linked mortality inversely to HDI (r=-0.793) and water acess (r=-0.782); all variable correlations were significant (P<0.001). Africa (e.g., Central African Republic and Chad) exhibited multiple deficits, Asia (e.g., Pakistan – Balochistan) had high low birth weight, and Europe showed the most favorable outcomes. Conclusion. These findings reveal child health inequalities, with Africa facing pronounced deficits, underscoring the need for targeted international policies to address disparities.