Three indicators in the death outcome dimensions (MMR, NMR and U5MR) showed an annual declining trend. Conversely, the IBD showed an upward trend from 109.79 persons per 10,000 perinatal infants in 2000 to 145.06 persons in 2013; an IBD of 153.24 persons per 10,000 perinatal infants was found in 2011 (Fig. 1).Fig. 1Trends in China’s maternal and child health outcomes from 2000 to 2013