Mortality among children in Basrah

Abstract EN

Background : Childhood mortality is a sensitive indicator of the health and socioeconomic status of population.

Differential figures across populations and/or over time suggest variation in the quality of health, health care and standard of living.

During the last three decades, all indicators of childhood mortality showed declining trend but a great variation does exist between developed and developing countries with some countries, mostly African have the highest rates.

Objectives : The present study was conducted to estimate the mortality rate among children aged less than 15 years in Basrah over a 6-year period and to identify the major causes of childhood mortality.

Methods : A retrospective, record-based study using all official records of deaths among children during the years 2008-2013.

Results : The study demonstrated that overall childhood mortality rate for the years (2008-2013) in Basrah governorate was within the international pattern with a tendency towards lower figures among various countries.

Infant mortality (22.4 / 1000 live births) is still high as compared to many countries.

Regarding the sex distribution an excess of male specific mortality rate is seen.

Mortality among male children was 3.26/1000 males and 2.85 / 1000 female children.

No explanation is verifiable but excess exposure to risk factors, such as outdoor activities could be implicated.

The five leading causes of childhood death; perinatal causes, bacterial infections, congenital anomalies, accidents and diseases of the respiratory system accounted for 72.8 % of all registered childhood deaths in Basrah governorate during the years.2008-2013.

Most of these conditions are amenable to prevention.

Conclusions : A substantial proportion of deaths among children were related to causes of death that are amenable to prevention.

Key words: Childhood mortality, Basrah, Retrospective, Death