the relatively small female advantage in africa in is mainly a consequence of the differential impact of the hivaids epidemic on mortality levels by sex with hiv prevalence estimated to be higher among women than among men in the more developed regions the female advantage is larger in europe years or per cent than in northern america years or per cent and oceania which includes australianew zealand the child mortality rate also known as the underfive mortality rate declined at a remarkable pace of about per cent per year between and