ObjectiveTo understand the change of causes of death for children under age 5 in Ninghai County.

MethodsThe data for 235 child death cases of children under age 5 in Ninghai County from 2010 to 2015 were analyzed.

ResultsThe mortality rate of children under age 5 decreased in Ninghai County from 2010 to 2015. The top three causes of death were birth defects, premature birth and asphyxia in due order. The proportion of untreated child patients took on a downward trend, and decreased from 28.6% in 2010 to 6.06%. The percentage of inpatient treatments rose from 47.6% to 54.55%, and the percentage of outpatient treatments rose from 23.8% to 39.39%.

ConclusionStrengthening perinatal care management, reinforcing prevention against birth defects, minimizing the births of children with birth defects as well as premature infants, improving the capability of obstetric first aid of midwifery service institutions, standardizing the technologies of rescuing neonatal infants with asphyxia, improving the quality of work of obstetrics and pediatrics departments, actively implementing health education for parents of children and caregivers thereof, reducing the mortality rate of infants, especially neonatal infants, are key measures for reducing the mortality rate of children under age 5.