Leading Causes of Death for Children Under Five

Child Deaths Continue to Decline

Awareness of the leading causes of death for children can lead to intervention strategies to help prevent mortality. Many of these deaths are preventable through preconception health care, early and ongoing prenatal care, and outreach to parents and caregivers. This indicator measures the leading causes of death for infants less than one year old and children ages one through four in San Bernardino County.

Awareness of the leading causes of death for children can lead to intervention strategies to help prevent mortality.

How is San Bernardino County Doing?

TREND

The overall death rate for children under five decreased 1% between 2017 and 2018 and 29% since 2009. The number of infant deaths (161) remained unchanged between 2017 and 2018, but fell 33% since 2009. The number of deaths among children ages one through four decreased 10%, from 30 deaths in 2017 to 27 deaths in 2018. Since 2009, deaths among children ages one through four decreased 29%.

LONG TERM, THE NUMBER OF DEATHS FOR CHILDREN UNDER FIVE DECLINING

Deaths Due to All Causes for Children Under Five in San Bernardino County, 2011-2020

DEATH RATE FOR CHILDREN UNDER FIVE FALLS 11% IN 10 YEARS

Death Rate Due to All Causes for Children Under Five in San Bernardino County, 2011-2020

Note: The source for population projections have changed, therefore, these data are not comparable to the display in the 2020 Community Indicators Report.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Mortality 1999-2020 on CDC WONDER Online Database. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 1999-2020, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program

Cause of Death Detail

Congenital defects/chromosomal abnormalities and prematurity/low birth weight top the list of leading causes of infant deaths. Accidents and homicides were the leading causes of death for young children (one to four years old).

ALMOST 200 INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD DEATHS IN 2018

Leading Causes of Death for Infants and Young Children in San Bernardino County, 2018

Leading Causes of Death for Infants (Under Age One)

San Bernardino County, 2018
Cause of Death-Infants (Under Age One)Number of Deaths
Congenital defect/ chromosomal abnormalities30
Prematurity/low birth weight22
Maternal pregnancy complications affecting newborn17
Complications of placenta, cord & membranes10
All Other Causes82
TOTAL161

Causes with fewer than five deaths for infants and fewer than two deaths for young children are included in “All other causes.”

2017 data considered preliminary and does not include deaths of San Bernardino County residents that were registered in a state outside of California.

Source: County of San Bernardino, Department of Public Health analysis of California Department of Public Health, Center for Health Information and Statistics, California Death Statistical Master File.

Leading Causes of Death for Young Children (Ages 1-4)

San Bernardino County, 2017
Cause of Death-Young Children (Ages 1-4)Number of Deaths
Accidents (unintentional injuries)10
Congenital defect/ chromosomal abnormalities4
Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified4
Leukemia3
All Other Causes9
TOTAL30

Causes with fewer than five deaths for infants and fewer than two deaths for young children are included in “All other causes.”

2017 data considered preliminary and does not include deaths of San Bernardino County residents that were registered in a state outside of California.

Source: County of San Bernardino, Department of Public Health analysis of California Department of Public Health, Center for Health Information and Statistics, California Death Statistical Master File.

Note: With the exception of accidents, causes with fewer than five deaths for infants and fewer than two deaths for young children are included in “All other causes.” The data for 2018 are considered preliminary and do not include deaths of San Bernardino County residents that were recorded in a state outside of California.

Source: County of San Bernardino, Department of Public Health analysis of California Department of Public Health, Center for Health Information and Statistics, California Death Statistical Master File