Behavior of mortality in children under 5 years

Abstract

A study of cases and controls were performed during the years 2003-2011 at the Pediatric Teaching Hospital "Pedro Agustín Perez" Guantánamo to identify the behavior of mortality in children less than 5 years. All deceased children (n = 139) were studied (study group) and a systematic sample of children of the same age who were admitted under similar conditions, in the same time and period but whom did not die (control group). As mortality age groups were most affected, leading of causes of death, sex, origin, living conditions, parental education, nutritional status and breastfeeding .The main findings were: variables that are analyzed in steady trend during the studied period. The most affected age group was less than one year; the main causes of death were congenital anomalies, acute respiratory infections and acute diarrheal diseases. Predominate deceased male, rural origin, inadequate living conditions, inadequate schooling parents affected nutritional status and insufficient or no breastfeeding.