Mortality Trends from 2003 to 2009 among Adolescents and Young Adults in Rural Western Kenya Using a Health and Demographic Surveillance System

Phillips-Howard, Penelope ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1018-116X, Odhiambo, Frank O., Hamel, Mary, Adazu, Kubaje, Ackers, Marta, van Eijk, Anna ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1635-1289, Orimba, Vincent, Hoog, Anja van’t, Beynon, Caryl, Vulule, John, Bellis, Mark A., Slutsker, Laurence, deCock, Kevin, Breiman, Robert and Laserson, Kayla F. (2012) 'Mortality Trends from 2003 to 2009 among Adolescents and Young Adults in Rural Western Kenya Using a Health and Demographic Surveillance System'. PLoS ONE, Vol 7, Issue 11, e47017.

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Abstract

Background
Targeted global efforts to improve survival of young adults need information on mortality trends; contributions from health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) are required.

Methods and Findings
This study aimed to explore changing trends in deaths among adolescents (15–19 years) and young adults (20–24 years), using census and verbal autopsy data in rural western Kenya using a HDSS. Mid-year population estimates were used to generate all-cause mortality rates per 100,000 population by age and gender, by communicable (CD) and non-communicable disease (NCD) causes. Linear trends from 2003 to 2009 were examined. In 2003, all-cause mortality rates of adolescents and young adults were 403 and 1,613 per 100,000 population, respectively, among females; and 217 and 716 per 100,000, respectively, among males. CD mortality rates among females and males 15–24 years were 500 and 191 per 100,000 (relative risk [RR] 2.6; 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.7–4.0; p<0.001). NCD mortality rates in same aged females and males were similar (141 and 128 per 100,000, respectively; p = 0.76). By 2009, young adult female all-cause mortality rates fell 53% (χ2 for linear trend 30.4; p<0.001) and 61.5% among adolescent females (χ2 for linear trend 11.9; p<0.001). No significant CD mortality reductions occurred among males or for NCD mortality in either gender. By 2009, all-cause, CD, and NCD mortality rates were not significantly different between males and females, and among males, injuries equalled HIV as the top cause of death.

Conclusions
This study found significant reductions in adolescent and young adult female mortality rates, evidencing the effects of targeted public health programmes, however, all-cause and CD mortality rates among females remain alarmingly high. These data underscore the need to strengthen programmes and target strategies to reach both males and females, and to promote NCD as well as CD initiatives to reduce the mortality burden amongst both gender.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	W General Medicine. Health Professions > W 26.5 Informatics. Health informatics QZ Pathology > QZ 35 Postmortem examination QZ Pathology > Pathogenesis. Etiology > QZ 53 Pathogenesis. Age or sex factors WA Public Health > Health Problems of Special Population Groups > WA 395 Health in developing countries WA Public Health > Statistics. Surveys > WA 900 Public health statistics WS Pediatrics > By Age Groups > WS 460 Adolescence (General)
Faculty: Department:	Groups (2002 - 2012) > Clinical Group
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0047017
Depositing User:	Martin Chapman
Date Deposited:	18 Dec 2014 16:49
Last Modified:	13 Sep 2019 14:16
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/4695

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