Health priorities in Wisconsin: a case for tracking childhood mortality

To assess trends in mortality among children ages 1-14 in Wisconsin over the last 2 decades and prompt policymakers to include annual monitoring of childhood mortality in the state Health Plan for 2010.

Data for all-cause and cause-specific (intentional-, unintentional-, non-injury related) mortality for 1980-1999 were obtained from WONDER, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's mortality database, and stratified by black/white race and gender. Trends were assessed using the 5-year moving average method and projected to 2010 to estimate future mortality.

Childhood mortality rates in Wisconsin decreased 26% from 1980-1999 to 23.7/100,000 population, representing 87 lives saved annually. Throughout this period, Wisconsin's mortality rate was lower than the national average; however, disparities have increased. Boys and blacks experienced the highest death rates and the greatest increases in rates from homicide and suicide. If trends continue, Wisconsin is predicted to have the same overall rate as the United States in 2010.

Wisconsin has experienced slower rates of decline in childhood mortality than the United States over the past 20 years, due, in part, to increasing disparities by race and gender. To halt this phenomenon, policymakers should include annual monitoring of childhood mortality rates in the state health plan and support appropriate interventions for children at risk.