PHM-Exch> Global, regional, and national causes of child mortality in 2008: a systematic analysis

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Ruggiero, Mrs. Ana Lucia (WDC) <ruglucia at paho.org>
crossposted from: EQUIDAD at listserv.paho.org


 *Global, regional, and national causes of child mortality in 2008: a
systematic analysis

*

Prof Robert E Black a , Prof Simon Cousens b, Hope L Johnson a, Joy E Lawn
c, Prof Igor Rudan d, Diego G Bassani e,
Prof Prabhat Jha e, Prof Harry Campbell d, Christa Fischer Walker a, Richard
Cibulskis f, Thomas Eisele h, Li Liu  a, Colin Mathers g

 *The Lancet: Available online 11 May 2010 - *
doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(10)60549-1<http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(10)60549-1>


*Child Health Epidemiology Reference Group of WHO and UNICEF

*

Website: http://bit.ly/cUjwZ1

 Background

Up-to-date information on the causes of child deaths is crucial to guide
global efforts to improve child survival. We report new estimates for 2008
of the major causes of death in children younger than 5 years.

Findings

Of the estimated 8·795 million deaths in children younger than 5 years
worldwide in 2008, infectious diseases caused 68% (5·970 million), with the
largest percentages due to pneumonia (18%, 1·575 million, ), diarrhoea (15%,
1·336 million, ), and malaria (8%, 0·732 million, ). 41% (3·575 million) of
deaths occurred in neonates, and the most important single causes were
preterm birth complications (12%, 1·033 million, ), birth asphyxia (9%,
0·814 million, ), sepsis (6%, 0·521 million, ), and pneumonia (4%, 0·386
million, ). 49% (4·294 million) of child deaths occurred in five countries:
India, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pakistan, and China.


Interpretation

These country-specific estimates of the major causes of child deaths should
help to focus national programmes and donor assistance. Achievement of
Millennium Development Goal 4, to reduce child mortality by two-thirds, is
only possible if the high numbers of deaths are addressed by maternal,
newborn, and child health interventions.


Funding: WHO, UNICEF, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Supplementary webappendix<http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/MiamiMultiMediaURL/B6T1B-502CT5H-1/B6T1B-502CT5H-1-N/4886/html/S0140673610605491/649c1f3256bd827875a96cfbbd539bfd/mmc1.pdf>
.
Supplement to:
Black RE, Cousens S, Johnson HL, et al. Global, regional, and national
causes of child mortality in 2008: a systematic analysis.
Lancet 2010; published online May 12. DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(10)60549-1.
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