[afro-nets] Global, regional, and national causes of child mortality in 2008: a systematic analysis

General afro-nets
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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&gt;

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&gt;
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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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Ruggiero, Mrs. Ana Lucia (WDC)
mailto:ruglucia@paho.org