Experience in childhood mortality

ABSTRACT

Of 3280 children admitted in NICH during the year 1982, 632 [19.2%] died. The cases were divided into two groups. Of 2536 group A children [0-12 years], 431 [16.99%] died. Seventy percent of deaths occurred under 1 year and 90% under 5 years of age. Main causes of death were protein energy malnutrition [PEM] with diarrhoea [32.7%], P.E.M. with respiratory infection [7.4%] and Encephalitis [10.2%]. Of 744 group B cases [Neonates] 201 died, the mortality being 27.02%. The main causes of death were low birth weight [50.8%], infections [18.4%] and birth injuries [10.4%]