Child Health
Childhood Mortality
These pages provide a summary of mortality in children under 15 years of age, from previously published death registration data collected by the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS). Death rates for children have fallen significantly during the 20th century. Some factors that have contributed towards this decline are improved diet, sanitation and health care as well as wider availability of vaccinations and better access to ante- and post-natal care.
Information available
Statistical Publication Notice
Key points for 2006
Childhood Mortality Trend
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Death rates in children under 15 years have fallen from 8.5 per 10,000 population (830 deaths) in 1986 to 4.2 per 10,000 population (362 deaths) in 2006 (Figure 1a).
Number of Deaths by Age Group
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Mortality rates are highest amongst children under the age of 1, with a rate of 45.0 deaths per 10,000 population in 2006. This equates to approximately two thirds of the total deaths occurring in children under 15 years of age (248 out of 362). There is little difference among age groups 1-4, 5-9 and 10-14 years with rates of 2.2, 1.0 and 1.2 per 10,000 population, respectively (Figure 1b).
Primary Cause of Death by Age Group
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The major causes of death in children under 15 years of age are perinatal conditions, accounting for 139 deaths in 2006. These are conditions occurring in the first week of life such as disorders relating to prematurity and respiratory and cardiovascular disorders. The second most common causes of death are congenital anomalies, accounting for 73 deaths in 2006. These two primary causes of death account for over half (58%) of deaths in children and demonstrate that pregnancy and birth can be hazardous periods of development.
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Other main causes of death in children under 15 years of age are signs and symptoms, malignant neoplasms, and accidents and adverse effects. Signs and symptoms are ill-defined conditions that have no diagnosis classifiable elsewhere. It is worth noting that sudden infant death syndrome largely accounts for those children with signs and symptoms recorded as cause of death.
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For more information on causes of death, visit the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) web site or the Scottish Perinatal & Infant Mortality & Morbidity Report (SPIMMR) .
Mortality by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) and Age Group
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Children from the most deprived areas have a higher mortality rate than children from the most affluent areas. In 2006, 6.0 deaths per 10,000 population were recorded in the most deprived areas (SIMD quintile 5), compared with 2.4 deaths per 10,000 population in the least deprived areas (SIMD quintile 1) (Figure 3).
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The effect of deprivation on infant mortality rates is heavily influenced by circumstances of birth. Prematurity is an important factor especially for mothers in more deprived areas.
Table/Figure 1: Childhood Mortality Trend
Number of deaths and rate per 10,000 population in children under 15 years of age.
Calendar years 
1986 - 2006 (
33kb)
Table/Figure 2: Primary Cause of Death by Age Group
Number of deaths and rate per 10,000 population in children under 15 years of age by primary cause of death.
Calendar years;2004 - 2006 ( 140 kb)
Table/Figure 3: Mortality by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation and Age Group
Number of deaths and rate per 10,000 population in children under 15 years of age by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD).
Calendar years;2004 - 2006 ( 66 kb).
Child Health
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