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Changes in causes of death and mortality rates among children in Greenland from 1987 - 91 to 1992 - 99

Nordic School of Public Health, Gothenburg, Sweden, aaen{at}gh.gl

Peter Bjerregaard

National Institute of Public Health, Copenhagen, Denmark

Aims: This study analysed the spontaneous trends in mortality among children in Greenland from 1987 - 91 to 1992 - 99 and describes the changes in the causes of death, mortality rates, and variation between regions. Methods: The data are based on the Greenland Registry of Causes of Death and the birth registry of the Medical Office of Health in Greenland. The causes of death and relevant mortality rates, the trends over time and the differences between regions were analysed epidemiologically for 1992 - 99 and compared with those for 1987 - 91. Results: From 1992 to 1999, 8,709 children were born in Greenland. The data include information on 313 child deaths during this period: 64 stillbirths, 158 deaths before one year of age (infants) and 91 deaths between one and 14 years of age. There were fewer stillbirths due to placenta previa, abruptio placentae, and prematurity, fewer infants died from birth asphyxia and infectious diseases and fewer children aged 1 - 14 years died from accidents in 1992 - 99 compared with 1987 - 91. Infant mortality in Greenland declined from 25.2 per 1,000 live births to 18.3 and mortality among children 1 - 14 years old from 122.7 per 100,000 person-years to 80.4 between 1987 - 91 and 1992 - 99. Mortality dropped proportionally more in East Greenland. Conclusion: The decline in child mortality in all age groups probably resulted from general societal trends and general improvement in the healthcare system. Child mortality is still unacceptably high, and it is recommended that sectors other than healthcare become aware of their responsibility for preventing the high rate of child mortality.

Key Words: children • cause of death • Greenland • infant mortality • mortality • regional differences • socioeconomic factors.

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