Objective: To determine the causes of death among Amsterdam children dying abroad.
Design: Retrospective study.
Setting: Department of Youth Health Care in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Method: Analysis was based on the data bank of the Department of Youth Health Care, which contains the items sex, age and ethnic origin of decreased children as well as time, place and cause of death.
Results: A total of 791 Amsterdam children (1 week-14 years old) died during the period 1982-1993. Of these children 98 (12.4%) died outside the Netherlands; of two the place of death was unknown. A relatively large proportion of decreased Turkish and Moroccan children died while abroad, 24.7% and 34.2% respectively. The distribution of causes of death among children dying in the Netherlands differed from children dying abroad. The most important causes abroad were accidents (especially car accidents), infections (especially gastrointestinal infections) and congenital disorders. Children who died of accidents were mainly between 1 and 9 years old. Fatal infections were primarily seen in children 0 years old and of Moroccan origin, and in the period 1982-1985. Children who died of congenital abnormalities were mostly of Moroccan origin.
Conclusion: Mortality among Turkish and Moroccan Amsterdam children often occurred outside the Netherlands. Mortality in children visiting foreign countries was mainly the result of preventable causes such as accidents and infections.