Mortality Rates and Health Progress

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Abstract
Mortality rates, when properly interpreted, can be of much use in allowing us to follow the progress of a community's health status. Pediatricians have tended to look mainly at infant mortality, traditionally a sensitive general indicator, but similar data for other children are also of value. In this issue of Pediatrics, Hoekelman and Pless1 reviewed National Center for Health Statistics data regarding the trend, since 1900, of US mortality at the several ages of childhood, analyzing the factors that appear to have had most influence and seeking lessons for future action. Wisely, before making any interpretations, they examined carefully whether statistical factors such as completeness of reporting or changes in classification procedures might have interfered seriously with any of their conclusions and justifiably believed none did.

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