Pages 74-76 in G. Pétursdóttir et al., eds. Circumpolar Health 93. Proceedings of the 9th International Congress on Circumpolar Health, Reykjavík, Iceland, June 20-25, 1993. Arctic Medical Research. 1994;53(Suppl.2)
Pages 74-76 in G. Pétursdóttir et al., eds. Circumpolar Health 93. Proceedings of the 9th International Congress on Circumpolar Health, Reykjavík, Iceland, June 20-25, 1993. Arctic Medical Research. 1994;53(Suppl.2)
Child mortality is very high in Greenland. In order to develop preventive strategies, information was obtained on all child deaths (0-14 years) during 1987-91. The information included medical and social data on the child, the mother, and two living control children of the same age, sex, and place of residence. A total of 225 deaths and 48 stillbirths were recorded and classified as unavoidable, avoidable in a southern-type health facility, or avoidable under local conditions. Of 214 natural deaths and stillbirths, 21% could probably have been avoided in a southern hospital, and an additional 16% could have been avoided in Greenland had the local conditions been up to standards. The establishment of a permanent infant and child death review committee is proposed.