FACTORS LINKED TO MORTALITY OF NEONATES A ND YOUNG-CHILDREN - RESULTSOF A NATIONAL SURVEY IN ALGERIA

Background. The immediate medical causes of childhood death in develop ing countries are low birthweight, inadequate nutrition and serious in fectious disease. This report describes the main diseases causing infa nt mortality in Algeria. Population and methods. 1% of Algerian househ old was investigated in December 1989 in a cross-sectional single-inte rview survey. Sampling was simple random stratified based on the popul ation dispersion, with a second degree cluster for district and househ old. Questionnaires include 6 data on the deaths: birthdate, day of de ath, sex, associated factors, diagnosis of the mother, and diagnosis o f the survey team. Results. 32 945 births were registered between 1985 and 1989. There were 1 608 deaths. The main factors linked to these d eaths were acute diarrhea (18.4%), acute respiratory diseases (13.8%), premature birth (11.6%). Premature birth was the main factor (31.9%) linked to mortality before the age of 1 month. Factors linked to morta lity were not influenced by sex but were influenced by population disp ersion. The mortality rate and the factors linked to it remained uncha nged between 1985 and 1989. Conclusions. These results will help targe t the national program to reduce infant mortality.