Epidemiology and Causes of Death among Children in a Rural Area of Bangladesh

From a longitudinal surveillance programme among a rural Bangladesh population of 260,000, the epidemiology and causes of child death (under age 5) over 3 years (1975-1977) were analyzed. The most significant causes of death were diarrhoea (watery and dysentery), tetanus, measles, fever, respiratory disease, drowning, skin disease, and other causes. Of an infant mortality rate of 142.6/1000 live births, neonatal tetanus (37.4/1000), diarrhoea (19.6/1000), and respiratory disease (10.4/1000) were the most significant identifiable causes. Many infant deaths (62.2/1000) were unidentified, taking place during the neonatal (1-28 days) period. The 1-4 year mortality averaged 34.3/1 000. Diarrhoea (15.1/1 000), measles (4.5/1 000), fever (2.9/1 000) and respiratory disease (1.6/1 000) accounted for most 1-4 year deaths. Mortality trends over the past…