Commentary: Estimating the causes of child deaths

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Abstract
There is no question that preventing child mortality should be a priority for all populations. There are moral and philosophical reasons to do so (the ‘fair innings’ argument). The replacement of populations depends on sufficient children surviving to reproductive age. It is also critical for indicators of overall population development: reductions in infant and child mortality exert substantially greater impact on levels of life expectancy than similar proportionate declines in death rates at older ages. The long-term decline in child mortality in the industrialized countries that has accompanied economic and social development has depended in part on the implementation of technologies and programmes that target specific diseases, or groups of diseases that often co-occur in the sick child. A reliable information system to monitor progress with programme implementation, and to highlight areas where greater, or new investment is needed, is a key support for public policy to improve child survival.

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