Some effects of economic sanction on childhood mortality in Tikrit

A total of 500 cases admitted to Saddam General Hospital [SGH] from the first of August to the end of Decmeber/1990; and from the first of May to the end of July/1991; were studied. The results showed that there is an increase in the mortality rate and failure to thrive among pediatric age group below 5 years and this may be attributed to ongoing economic sanction and boycott. Gatroenteritis as a common cause of death under 5 years of age, there was an increase by 18% in death rate from 1989 to 1990. However, malnutrition resulted in an increase of the death rate by 12% from year 1989 to 1990. Also an increase in the problem of failure to thrive which constitutes 16% of patients admitted to S.G.H. in Tikrit