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[Malnutrition as a multiple cause of death]
P Bustamante-Montes1, A R Villa-Romero, M A Lezana-Fernández
1Escuela de Salud Pública de México, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca.
Abstract:
With the purpose of describing the role of malnutrition at death time, an analysis of multiple causes of death in children under five years-old was performed on deaths which occurred during April and May 1985 in Mexico City. A proportional mortality analysis was done taking in consideration all the causes listed on the death certificate, not only the underlying causes. The number of deaths associated to malnutrition was greater by multiple cause than by underlying cause (OR = 7.9, 95% CI 5.0-12.7, p = 0.00000). The importance of considering multiple causes of death, mainly when there are frequent diseases which are some times recorded as underlying cause of death, is also discussed.
Insights
Malnutrition significantly contributed to child deaths in 1985 Mexico City. Analyzing multiple causes of death, not just underlying ones, revealed malnutrition
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Mortality
- Nutritional Epidemiology
- Public Health Surveillance
Context:
- Child mortality in Mexico City during April-May 1985.
- Focus on factors contributing to death in children under five years old.
Purpose:
- To describe the role of malnutrition as a contributing factor at the time of death.
- To analyze multiple causes of death in children under five.
Summary:
- A proportional mortality analysis considered all listed causes of death, not solely underlying causes.
- Malnutrition was identified as a cause in significantly more deaths when multiple causes were considered (OR = 7.9, 95% CI 5.0-12.7).
- The study highlights the importance of examining all recorded causes of death.
Impact:
- Emphasizes the underestimation of malnutrition's impact when only underlying causes are considered.
- Recommends comprehensive death certificate analysis for accurate public health assessments.
- Informs targeted interventions for child malnutrition and mortality reduction.