Precisely Tracking Childhood Death.

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Pathology
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Neonatal and under-five mortality in high-risk regions lack precise cause-of-death data.
• Existing methods like verbal autopsy are often inaccurate.
• Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 requires better data to end preventable child deaths.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the need for improved methods to determine specific causes of childhood death.
• To introduce Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling (MITS) as a definitive diagnostic technique.
• To advocate for expanded use of pathology-based cause-of-death determination.

Main Methods:

• Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling (MITS) involves needle-based postmortem sampling.
• Advanced histopathology and microbiology are used to definitively determine the cause of death.
• The Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance network utilizes MITS for cause-specific mortality rates.

Main Results:

• MITS provides precise cause-of-death determination, overcoming limitations of verbal autopsy.
• The Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance network aims to establish population-based mortality rates.
• This approach is being implemented in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Conclusions:

• Pathology-based cause-of-death determination is essential for effective child survival strategies.
• Expanded surveillance systems are needed to gather accurate mortality data.
• Increased funding and stakeholder commitment are required to end preventable childhood mortality.