Cumulative mortality in children aged 1 to 6 years born in Western Australia from 1980-89
a Division of Epidemiology,
TVW Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, PO Box 855, Perth,
Western Australia 6872, Australia, b King Edward
Memorial and Princess Margaret Hospitals, Perth, Western Australia
6008, Australia
Correspondence to: Dr Read.
Accepted 30 June 1998
PURPOSE
To investigate cumulative mortality for
children aged 1-6 years born in Western Australia from 1980 to 1989.
STUDY DESIGNBirths and deaths were ascertained
from a linked total population database supplemented by information
from postmortem records. Deaths were classified according to the
underlying cause, and mortality rates, including factor specific rates,
were calculated. Trends were investigated and comparisons were made
using relative risks with 95% confidence intervals.
RESULTSCumulative mortality was 2.2/1000 infant
survivors, with a significant decrease during the years studied.
Mortality was almost four times higher for Indigenous children, with no
decrease. Accidents comprised 45.6% of all deaths, birth defects
17.3%, cancer and leukaemias 12.5%, and infections 11.0%. Low birth
weight, preterm birth, and young maternal age significantly increased
the risk of death in both Indigenous and non-Indigenous children;
single marital status was also a significant risk factor for
non-Indigenous children.
CONCLUSIONHigh quality data and appropriate
classification systems are essential to enable effective monitoring of
childhood deaths and the planning of preventive programmes. Further
decreases in mortality rates might be dependent on ensuring that
resources are directed towards improving social and economic conditions for Indigenous and other disadvantaged families.
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© 1999 by Archives of Disease in Childhood
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