[Changes in mortality caused by accidents in children and their geographic distribution in Spain (1975-1994]

In the developed countries, child accidents are ranked as one of the leading causes of death. The purpose of this study is to describe the 1975-1994 trend in Spain and its breakdown by Autonomous Communities.

The following indicators have been calculated based on the official death statistics accidental deaths and populations in Spain and their Autonomous Communities for the 1-14 age range: percentages of total deaths, gross death rates, age-related rates, specific rates by age groups and related risks broken down by figures for the females and males, year of death and Autonomous Community.

During the 1975-1994 period, accidental child death rates in Spain have fallen by 3% annually for females and by 3.5% for males. The male/female ratio remained at approximately two (2). Traffic accidents totaled around 50%. Aragon showed the lowest relative risk for females (0.54) as well as for males (0.57), Galicia having shown the highest (1.73 for females, 1.91 for males). The percentage of the total number of child deaths varied greatly from one Autonomous Community to another, while the percentage of traffic accidents was around 50% in all of the Autonomous Communities.

In Spain, the child accidental death rate has dropped remarkably, it being estimated that currently 50% less die than in 1975. The breakdown by Autonomous Communities revealed certain major differences.