Injury-related Infant and Early Childhood Mortality in Migrant Households in a Southern City of China

Background: Children in migrant households in southern cities of China might be at higher risk of injury-related mortality than local residents. However, little has been done to study this significant issue in China.

Methods: Child mortality data from 2004-2008 were provided by the Child Mortality Review system of Shenzhen city. Households were classified by parent's legal registration status. Population data for children 1-4 years old were obtained from Shenzhen Census Bureau and number of live births was obtained from birth registration. All cause and injury-related infant and early childhood mortality rates were compared between local and migrant households. Leading causes of injury-related mortality were also compared.

Results: A total of 3,774 childhood deaths were identified. All-cause rates among infant (<1 years old) and early childhood (1-4 years old) dropped significantly from 2004 to 2008. However, injury-related mortality rates, which accounted for more than half of early childhood deaths, did not change significantly. Comparing migrant households with local households, mortality rate ratios were 3.37 and 12.63 for injury-related infant and early childhood deaths respectively. Drowning, traffic crash, and falls were top three causes of early childhood death and suffocation was the leading cause of infant death. However, mortality rates were significantly higher among children in migrant households (p-value <0.05).

Conclusions: Children in migrant households were at significantly higher risk of injury-related mortality than children in local households. Injury control programs need to target drowning, traffic safety, and falls among early childhood and suffocation among infants as top priorities.