Modifiable factors for prevention of childhood mortality

Abstract

Objective: To know the disease-related causes of child mortality and identify socially modifiable factors affecting child mortality among hospitalized children aged >1 month-18 years in a referral hospital of North India. Methods: Causes of death (ICD-10 based) were extracted retrospectively from hospital files (n=487) from 17 March 2003 to 30 June 2012. Modifiable factors were prospectively studied in 107 consecutive deaths from 6 October 2011 to 30 June 2012. Results: Pneumonia, CNS infections and diarrhea were the most common disease-related causes of child mortality. Conclusions: Amongst modifiable factors, administrative issues were most common followed by family-related reasons and medical-personnel related problems. © 2014 Indian Academy of Pediatrics.