J Prev Med Public Health.  2014 Nov;47(6):336-342. 10.3961/jpmph.14.024.

Causes of Child Mortality (1 to 4 Years of Age) From 1983 to 2012 in the Republic of Korea: National Vital Data

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. scho@snu.ac.kr

Abstract


OBJECTIVES
Child mortality remains a critical problem even in developed countries due to low fertility. To plan effective interventions, investigation into the trends and causes of child mortality is necessary. Therefore, we analyzed these trends and causes of child deaths over the last 30 years in Korea.
METHODS
Causes of death data were obtained from a nationwide vital registration managed by the Korean Statistical Information Service. The mortality rate among all children aged between one and four years and the causes of deaths were reviewed. Data from 1983-2012 and 1993-2012 were analyzed separately because the proportion of unspecified causes of death during 1983-1992 varied substantially from that during 1993-2012.
RESULTS
The child (1-4 years) mortality rates substantially decreased during the past three decades. The trend analysis revealed that all the five major causes of death (infectious, neoplastic, neurologic, congenital, and external origins) have decreased significantly. However, the sex ratio of child mortality (boys to girls) slightly increased during the last 30 years. External causes of death remain the most frequent origin of child mortality, and the proportion of mortality due to child assault has significantly increased (from 1.02 in 1983 to 1.38 in 2012).
CONCLUSIONS
In Korea, the major causes and rate of child mortality have changed and the sex ratio of child mortality has slightly increased since the early 1980s. Child mortality, especially due to preventable causes, requires public health intervention.

Keyword

Child mortality; Cause of death; Sex ratio

MeSH Terms

Cause of Death
Child Mortality/*trends
Child, Preschool
Communicable Diseases/mortality
Databases, Factual
Female
Humans
Infant
Male
Neoplasms/mortality
Nervous System Diseases/mortality
Republic of Korea
Sex Ratio
Vital Statistics
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