Articles: mortality.
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A system has been established to document births and deaths in children in a large, rural, West African population, using community reporters. Causes of death in children under the age of 5 years were investigated using post-mortem questionnaires completed by field assistants. There was a marked seasonal incidence of all major causes of death with peak rates in the rainy season. ⋯ Other major causes of death were malaria, acute gastro-enteritis and chronic diarrhoea with malnutrition. Mortality from all the major causes of death decreased with increasing village size. Our findings have implications for interventions against childhood mortality.
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India is undergoing an epidemiological transition and is on the threshold of an epidemic of cardiovascular disease. Cause-specific mortality data indicate that cardiovascular disease is already an important contributor to mortality. ⋯ Surveys in urban areas suggest that coronary risk factors are already widespread and that urgent action is needed to prevent a further rise as socioeconomic development proceeds. It is vital to obtain epidemiological data from several regions in order to plan, initiate and monitor public health action.