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Health Economics Jan 2024How does terrorism affect child mortality? We use geo-coded data on terrorism and spatially disaggregated data on child mortality to study the relationship between both...
How does terrorism affect child mortality? We use geo-coded data on terrorism and spatially disaggregated data on child mortality to study the relationship between both variables for 52 African countries between 2000 and 2017 at the 0.5 × 0.5° grid level. Our estimates suggest that moderate increases in terrorism are linked to several thousand additional annual deaths of children under the age of five. A panel event-study points to economic effects that are larger and compound over time. Interrogating our data, we show that the direct impact of terrorism tends to be very small. Instead, we theorize that terrorism causes child mortality primarily by triggering adverse behavioral responses by parents, medical workers, and policymakers. We provide tentative evidence in support of this argument.
Topics: Child; Humans; Child Mortality; Terrorism; Parents
PubMed: 37717244
DOI: 10.1002/hec.4757 -
Journal of Internal Medicine Aug 2023
Topics: Humans; Diet; Mortality
PubMed: 37282746
DOI: 10.1111/joim.13677 -
National Vital Statistics Reports :... Dec 2023Objectives-This report presents final 2020 data on the 10 leading causes of death in the United States by age, race and Hispanic origin, and sex. Leading causes of...
Objectives-This report presents final 2020 data on the 10 leading causes of death in the United States by age, race and Hispanic origin, and sex. Leading causes of infant, neonatal, and postneonatal death are also presented. This report supplements "Deaths: Final Data for 2020," the National Center for Health Statistics' annual report of final mortality statistics. Methods-Data in this report are based on information from all death certificates filed in the 50 states and the District of Columbia in 2020. Causes of death classified by the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) are ranked according to the number of deaths. Cause-of-death statistics are based on the underlying cause of death. Race and Hispanicorigin data are based on the Office of Management and Budget's 1997 standards for reporting race and Hispanic origin. Results-In 2020, many of the 10 leading causes of death changed rank order due to the emergence of COVID-19 as a leading cause of death in the United States. The 10 leading causes of death in 2020 were, in rank order: Diseases of heart; Malignant neoplasms; COVID-19; Accidents (unintentional injuries); Cerebrovascular diseases; Chronic lower respiratory diseases; Alzheimer disease; Diabetes mellitus; Influenza and pneumonia; and Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis. They accounted for 74.1% of all deaths occurring in the United States. Differences in the rankings are evident by age, race and Hispanic origin, and sex. Leading causes of infant death for 2020 were, in rank order: Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities; Disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight, not elsewhere classified; Sudden infant death syndrome; Accidents (unintentional injuries); Newborn affected by maternal complications of pregnancy; Newborn affected by complications of placenta, cord and membranes; Bacterial sepsis of newborn; Respiratory distress of newborn; Diseases of the circulatory system; and Neonatal hemorrhage.
Topics: Infant; Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy; Female; Humans; United States; Cause of Death; Death Certificates; Infant Mortality; Accidental Injuries; Sudden Infant Death; Nephrotic Syndrome; COVID-19
PubMed: 38085308
DOI: No ID Found -
The Science of the Total Environment Oct 2023Few large-scale, nationwide studies have assessed cause-specific mortality risks and burdens associated with temperature variability (TV). (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Few large-scale, nationwide studies have assessed cause-specific mortality risks and burdens associated with temperature variability (TV).
OBJECTIVE
To estimate associations between TV and cause-specific mortality and quantify the mortality burden in China.
METHODS
Data on daily total and cause-specific mortality in 272 Chinese cities between 2013 and 2015 were recorded. TVs were computed as the standard deviations of daily minimum and maximum temperatures over a duration of 2 to 7 days. The time-series quasi-Poisson regression model with adjustment of the cumulative effects of daily mean temperature over the same duration was applied to evaluate the city-specific associations of TV and mortality. Then, we pooled the effect estimates using a random-effects meta-analysis and calculated the mortality burdens.
RESULTS
Overall, TV showed significant and positive associations with total and cause-specific mortality. The TV-mortality associations were generally stronger when using longer durations. A 1 °C increase in TV at 0-7 days (TV) was associated with a 0.79 % [95 % confidence interval (CI): 0.55 %, 0.96 %] increase in total mortality. Mortality fractions attributable to TV were 4.37 % for total causes, 4.75 % for overall cardiovascular disease, 4.37 % for coronary heart disease, 5.05 % for stroke, 8.28 % for ischaemic stroke, 1.08 % for haemorrhagic stroke, 6.93 % for respiratory disease, and 6.81 % for COPD, respectively. The mortality risk and burden were generally higher in the temperate monsoon zone, females, and elders.
CONCLUSION
This nationwide study indicated that TV was an independent risk factor of mortality, and could result in significant burden for main cardiorespiratory diseases.
Topics: Aged; Female; Humans; Brain Ischemia; Cause of Death; China; Cities; Cold Temperature; Environmental Exposure; Hot Temperature; Mortality; Stroke; Temperature; Male
PubMed: 37406687
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165267 -
Indian Journal of Pediatrics Dec 2023In India, considerable progress has been made in reducing child mortality rates. Despite this achievement, wide disparities persist across and socio-economic strata, and... (Review)
Review
In India, considerable progress has been made in reducing child mortality rates. Despite this achievement, wide disparities persist across and socio-economic strata, and persistent challenges, such as malnutrition, poor sanitation, and lack of clean water. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the state of child health in India, examining key risk factors and causes of child mortality, assessing the coverage of child health interventions, and highlighting critical public health programs and policies. The authors also discuss future directions and recommendations for bolstering ongoing efforts to improve child health. These include state- and region-specific interventions, prioritizing social determinants of health, strengthening data systems, leveraging existing programs like the National Health Mission (NHM) and Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), and the proposed Public Health Management Cadre (PHMC). The authors argue that reducing child mortality requires not only scaled-up interventions but a comprehensive approach that addresses all dimensions of health, from social determinants to system strengthening.
Topics: Infant; Infant, Newborn; Child; Humans; Child Mortality; Child Health; India; Infant Mortality
PubMed: 37695418
DOI: 10.1007/s12098-023-04834-z -
Frontiers in Public Health 2023This study was aimed to examine the association between cigarette smoking in childhood and mortality in adulthood, and the impact of non-smoking duration among smokers...
BACKGROUND
This study was aimed to examine the association between cigarette smoking in childhood and mortality in adulthood, and the impact of non-smoking duration among smokers who subsequently quit smoking.
METHODS
We used data from 472,887 adults aged 18-85 years examined once in the US National Health Interview Survey in 1997-2014, which was linked to mortality data from the National Death Index up to 31 December 2015. Cigarette smoking status in childhood (age 6 to 17 years) and adulthood (age 18 to 85 years) was self-reported using a standard questionnaire at the time of participation in the survey. The vital status of participants due all-causes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer and chronic lower respiratory diseases was obtained using mortality data from the National Death Index.
RESULTS
During the mean follow-up of 8.75 years, compared with never smoking in childhood and adulthood, the risk of all-cause mortality among current adult smokers decreased slightly according to increasing age at smoking initiation: hazard ratios (HRs; 95% confidence intervals, CIs) were 2.54 (2.24-2.88) at age of 6-9 years, 2.44 (2.31-2.57) at age of 10-14 years, and 2.21 (2.12-2.31) at age of 15-17 years. Smoking cessation before the age of 30 years was not associated with increased risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality (all > 0.05) compared to never smoking.
CONCLUSION
Mortality risk was higher in individuals who started smoking at an earlier age in childhood. Inversely, smoking cessation before the age of 30 years was not associated with an increased risk of mortality compared to never smoking.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Child; Adolescent; Cigarette Smoking; Cause of Death; Cardiovascular Diseases; Smokers; Neoplasms
PubMed: 37483954
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1051597 -
The Lancet. Psychiatry Aug 2023
Topics: Humans; Unemployment; Mental Disorders; Mortality
PubMed: 37479337
DOI: 10.1016/S2215-0366(23)00201-8 -
The Medical Journal of Australia Oct 2023
Topics: Child; Humans; Child Abuse; Mortality, Premature
PubMed: 37622210
DOI: 10.5694/mja2.52092 -
Revue de L'infirmiere Oct 2023The infant mortality rate (children under five) in Palestine is 21 deaths per 1,000 live births. Palestine has thus successfully reached the threshold set by the... (Review)
Review
The infant mortality rate (children under five) in Palestine is 21 deaths per 1,000 live births. Palestine has thus successfully reached the threshold set by the Millennium Development Goals for child mortality. However, this rate is higher than in neighboring countries. This indicator is extremely important as it is a highly sensitive indirect measure of population health, poverty and socio-economic development status, as well as the availability and quality of health services in a country. These are all factors that still present challenges in Palestine.
Topics: Child; Infant; Humans; Child Mortality; Infant Mortality; Health Services; Mortality
PubMed: 37838369
DOI: 10.1016/j.revinf.2023.08.009 -
JAMA Network Open Sep 2023Presentation to emergency departments (EDs) with high levels of pediatric readiness is associated with improved pediatric survival. However, it is unclear whether...
IMPORTANCE
Presentation to emergency departments (EDs) with high levels of pediatric readiness is associated with improved pediatric survival. However, it is unclear whether children of all races and ethnicities benefit equitably from increased levels of such readiness.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association of ED pediatric readiness with in-hospital mortality among children of different races and ethnicities with traumatic injuries or acute medical emergencies.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
This cohort study of children requiring emergency care in 586 EDs across 11 states was conducted from January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2017. Eligible participants included children younger than 18 years who were hospitalized for an acute medical emergency or traumatic injury. Data analysis was conducted between November 2022 and April 2023.
EXPOSURE
Hospitalization for acute medical emergency or traumatic injury.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. ED pediatric readiness was measured through the weighted Pediatric Readiness Score (wPRS) from the 2013 National Pediatric Readiness Project assessment and categorized by quartile. Multivariable, hierarchical, mixed-effects logistic regression was used to evaluate the association of race and ethnicity with in-hospital mortality.
RESULTS
The cohort included 633 536 children (median [IQR] age 4 [0-12] years]). There were 557 537 children (98 504 Black [17.7%], 167 838 Hispanic [30.1%], 311 157 White [55.8%], and 147 876 children of other races or ethnicities [26.5%]) who were hospitalized for acute medical emergencies, of whom 5158 (0.9%) died; 75 999 children (12 727 Black [16.7%], 21 604 Hispanic [28.4%], 44 203 White [58.2%]; and 21 609 of other races and ethnicities [27.7%]) were hospitalized for traumatic injuries, of whom 1339 (1.8%) died. Adjusted mortality of Black children with acute medical emergencies was significantly greater than that of Hispanic children, White children, and of children of other races and ethnicities (odds ratio [OR], 1.69; 95% CI, 1.59-1.79) across all quartile levels of ED pediatric readiness; but there were no racial or ethnic disparities in mortality when comparing Black children with traumatic injuries with Hispanic children, White children, and children of other races and ethnicities with traumatic injuries (OR 1.01; 95% CI, 0.89-1.15). When compared with hospitals in the lowest quartile of ED pediatric readiness, children who were treated at hospitals in the highest quartile had significantly lower mortality in both the acute medical emergency cohort (OR 0.24; 95% CI, 0.16-0.36) and traumatic injury cohort (OR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.25-0.61). The greatest survival advantage associated with high pediatric readiness was experienced for Black children in the acute medical emergency cohort.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
In this study, racial and ethnic disparities in mortality existed among children treated for acute medical emergencies but not traumatic injuries. Increased ED pediatric readiness was associated with reduced disparities; it was estimated that increasing the ED pediatric readiness levels of hospitals in the 3 lowest quartiles would result in an estimated 3-fold reduction in disparity for pediatric mortality. However, increased pediatric readiness did not eliminate disparities, indicating that organizations and initiatives dedicated to increasing ED pediatric readiness should consider formal integration of health equity into efforts to improve pediatric emergency care.
Topics: Child; Child, Preschool; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Cohort Studies; Emergencies; Emergency Service, Hospital; Ethnicity; Hispanic or Latino; Black or African American; Child Mortality; Racial Groups; Hospital Mortality
PubMed: 37669053
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.32160