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Diarrheal deaths in American children. Are they preventable?
M S Ho1, R I Glass, P F Pinsky
1Division of Viral Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA 30333.
Insights
Diarrheal diseases caused about 500 preventable childhood deaths annually in the US (1973-1983). Maternal factors and healthcare access influenced outcomes, suggesting targeted interventions can improve child survival.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Mortality
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Diarrheal diseases represent a significant cause of preventable childhood mortality.
- Understanding demographic and socioeconomic factors is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of diarrheal diseases on childhood mortality in the United States between 1973 and 1983.
- To identify risk factors associated with diarrheal deaths in children.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of national mortality data from 1973 to 1983.
- Review of fatal cases of diarrhea in Mississippi to identify maternal risk factors.
Main Results:
- An average of 500 children (1 month to 4 years) died annually from diarrhea.
- Deaths were more prevalent in infants, Black children, and those in the Southern US, particularly during winter.
- Maternal factors like young age, unmarried status, low education, and poor prenatal care were linked to child mortality from diarrhea.
- Half of the deaths occurred after medical facility admission.
Conclusions:
- Diarrheal deaths in children are largely preventable.
- Targeted public health interventions focusing on identified risk factors can improve child survival rates in the US.
Abstract:
We reviewed national mortality data for 1973 through 1983 to assess the importance of diarrheal diseases as a cause of preventable childhood death in the United States. An average of 500 children aged 1 month to 4 years died each year with diarrhea reported as the cause of death. These diarrheal deaths were most common among children who were younger than 1 year of age, black, and living in the South, and were most common during the winter. In Mississippi, review of fatal cases of diarrhea identified maternal factors--black race, young age, unmarried status, low level of education, and little prenatal care--to be most associated with diarrheal death in the child. Fifty percent of these deaths occurred after a child had reached a medical facility. Our findings suggest that diarrheal deaths may be preventable and that targeted interventions could contribute to improved child survival in the United States.
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