Epidemiological Study on the Causes of Mortality Among Children Aged 5-14 Years in the Northeast of Iran in 2013- 2019: A Descriptive Study

To identify the pattern and causes of death and to deal with them are among the most appropriate strategies to increase human life expectancy. The pattern of death in society must be identified to cope with the causes of premature deaths. The aim of this study was to epidemiologically investigate the causes of death in people aged 5-14 years in northeastern Iran.  Data on the deaths of people aged 5-14 years from Khorasan Razavi province during 2013- 2019, drawn from the Causes of Mortality Classification System of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, were used to conduct the study.  Data on 2084 deaths were examined, of which 824 (40.04%) occurred in girls. The number of deaths was 976 (53.83%) and 1108 (46.17%) in the age group of 5-9 and 10-14, respectively. Traffic accidents, cancers, external causes (unexpected events), and circulatory system diseases were found as the main causes of death. Among the cancers, lymphoid leukemia, malignant brain tumors, and myeloid leukemia (18%, 12%, and 7%, respectively) were the most common cancers, leading to death. In rural areas, unexpected events (20%) were the leading cause of death, followed by traffic accidents and cancers (19% and 13%, respectively).  Overall, the mortality rate in children aged 5-14 years due to traffic accidents and unexpected events (suffocation, burns, and the like) seems to be substantially higher in Iran compared to some developing countries and some neighboring countries such as Turkey. Given the possibility of taking preventive measures in this regard, it is necessary to develop policies to reduce the mortality rate in the age group.