Survival 0–6 years of age in a periurban community in Guinea-Bissau: a longitudinal assessment

Abstract

In the preparation of a child health-care project in a periurban settlement area with a population of 6200, a census identified 1464 children below 6 years of age. One thousand, one hundred and eighty-eight of these children were examined. They were followed up 12 months later, during which interval there was a current registration of the pregnancies, births and deaths in the area. The 360 newborns in the period were successively included in the follow-up. One hundred and forty-four deaths were documented, including the symptoms preceding their occurence. Sixty-two of the deaths were due to epidemic measles. The probability of survival through the neonatal period was 0·941, to 12 months of age 0·803, and to 60 months 0·546. The health-work that ensued upon this study emphasizes intra-pregnancy care and immunizations to the young children.