Global Patterns of Mortality in Young People

Some VERY interesting reading from the Lancet Journal volume 374 issue 9693: I suggest you go to the Lancet and join to read the full article.

Findings
2·6 million deaths occurred in people aged 10—24 years in 2004. 2·56 million (97%) of these deaths were in low-income and middle-income countries, and almost two thirds (1·67 million) were in sub-Saharan Africa and southeast Asia. Pronounced rises in mortality rates were recorded from early adolescence (10—14 years) to young adulthood (20—24 years), but reasons varied by region and sex. Maternal conditions were a leading cause of female deaths at 15%. HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis contributed to 11% of deaths. Traffic accidents were the largest cause and accounted for 14% of male and 5% of female deaths. Other prominent causes included violence (12% of male deaths) and suicide (6% of all deaths).


Regional differences in age of onset of sexual activity and availability and accessibility of condoms, contraception, safe abortion, antenatal and obstetric care, and HIV testing are some of the reasons for the rise in female mortality with age.4, 35 High maternal mortality rates in some low-income and middle-income countries have been previously described,36 and are the target of the fifth Millennium Development Goal. Prominence of maternal death in this young age-group should be a further incentive for promotion of developmentally appropriate sexual and reproductive health services for young people.35 In view of the high number of deaths due to abortion, to ensure not only that contraception is available but also that all abortions are safe would do much towards reduction of mortality in young women.37 In regions without substantial maternal mortality, rates of female deaths generally remained low throughout adolescence and young adulthood.
In males, injury deaths contributed most to the rise in mortality with age worldwide, but rates and patterns of causes varied substantially across regions. Injuries account for around 10% of worldwide mortality for all ages, but in people aged 10—24 years they accounted for more than 40% of all deaths and about half of male deaths.16, 38 The importance of injury deaths in young people in high-income countries has been recognised.12, 13 However, injury mortality was most prominent in low-income and middle-income countries. This finding emphasises the need for heightened investment in injury-prevention programmes for this age-group.39 Diverse responses are needed because patterns of injury deaths varied substantially between regions. An increase in traffic-related deaths in many high-income countries up until the 1980s resulted in coordinated intersectoral policy responses, with a subsequent fall in mortality.9, 40 Typical preventive measures include investments in road infrastructure, compulsory seatbelts and helmets, and enforcement of legislation for use of alcohol and other drugs when driving.