Worldwide Reduction in Child and Adolescent Mortality: Research Finding

A study reporting levels and trends for mortality and non-fatal health outcomes in children and adolescents aged 19 years and under in 195 countries from 1990 to 2015 includes Professor Benn Sartorius of UKZN as a co-author.

The study, titled “Global Drop in Mortality Among Children, Adolescents but Progress Uneven,” attempts to offer data for discussion of public policy.

This study, led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation as part of its Global Burden of Disease 2015 project, hypothesizes that progress in the fight against infectious, neo-natal, and nutritional disorders led to a global aggregate decrease in mortality among adolescents and children from 14.2 million deaths in 1990 to 7.2 million deaths in 2015.

Yet, the study discovered that regional and national disparities existed in this worldwide improvement. Compared to prior years, a higher percentage of deaths occurred in nations with lower socio-demographic index (SDI) values in 2015. For instance, South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa saw the highest death rates in 2015.

According to the study, lower respiratory tract infections, congenital defects, birth difficulties, neonatal sepsis, HIV and AIDS, meningitis, and malaria were the main causes of mortality. This is paired in many settings with an ongoing epidemiologic shift toward the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.

In addition, it was stated that between 1990 and 2015, the burden of impairment among children and adolescents grew to 4.3%. This acceleration was brought on by population growth and children and adolescents living longer.

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Nevertheless, in addition to this, a wide range of disabilities have long-term consequences associated with illnesses such congenital birth abnormalities, hemoglobinopathies, and neonatal disorders.

According to Sartorius, the findings also point to reproductive and maternal health as major contributors to the disease burden among female adolescents, particularly those who reside in lower-SDI nations.

In many nations, mortality continues to be the most serious consequence of health decline among this divided population. In contrast, disability is the most important factor in higher SDI places.

Even though assistance and advancement have not always been distributed equally, consistent and deliberate international research and investments have resulted in long-lasting improvements in the elimination of the causes of health loss that affect numerous children and adolescents in various countries.

In order to improve the health of their children and adolescents, all countries must carefully consider their options and put them into action.

This is due to the persistence of infectious diseases in some regions and the ongoing epidemiologic transition that is contributing to an increase in the burden of non-communicable diseases and injuries. By actively collaborating, UKZN is moving toward fulfilling this mandate,’ he said.

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