Causes of under five-year mortality in the central child teaching hospital

Background: Under-five mortality (U5M) is a significant public health concern that reflects the overall strength and development of a healthcare system. The leading causes of U5M include prematurity and its complications, pneumonia, and diarrheal diseases. Objectives: This study aims to identify the most common causes of U5M and analyze the effects of various factors on mortality rates. Patients and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at the Central Child Teaching Hospital in Baghdad, reviewing all under-five mortality cases admitted in 2015. Data were collected from medical records and analyzed. Results: Out of 11,884 admissions, there were 654 under-five deaths, with a mortality rate of 55 per 1,000 admissions. Neonatal mortality accounted for 40.2% of U5 deaths. The primary causes of neonatal mortality were prematurity, congenital anomalies, and sepsis. In early childhood, pneumonia, gastroenteritis, and malignancy were the most common causes. Identified risk factors included male gender, low birth weight, lack of breastfeeding, and consanguineous families. Additional neonatal risk factors were preterm birth, cesarean delivery, maternal age (20-30 years), and maternal gestational diseases. Conclusions: Prematurity remains the leading cause of neonatal mortality, while pneumonia is the most common cause in early childhood. Neonatal mortality constitutes a major portion of U5 deaths, with congenital anomalies and malignancies playing an increasing role in overall mortality.