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News and events

Global patterns of mortality in young people: a systematic analysis of population health data

Dr.Russell Viner is a co-author on this LANCET paper, published 12 Sept 2009

Viner and co-authors analysed data from the WHO 2004 Global Burden of Disease Study.

2·6 million deaths occurred in people aged 10—24 years in 2004. 2·56 million (97%) of these deaths were in low-income and middle-income countries, and almost two thirds (1·67 million) were in sub-Saharan Africa and southeast Asia. Pronounced rises in mortality rates were recorded from early adolescence (10—14 years) to young adulthood (20—24 years), but reasons varied by region and sex. Maternal conditions were a leading cause of female deaths at 15%. HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis contributed to 11% of deaths. Traffic accidents were the largest cause and accounted for 14% of male and 5% of female deaths. Other prominent causes included violence (12% of male deaths) and suicide (6% of all deaths).

The paper, led by George Patton from Melbourne, concluded that present global priorities for adolescent health policy, which focus on HIV/AIDS and maternal mortality, are an important but insufficient response to prevent mortality in an age-group in which more than two in five deaths are due to intentional and unintentional injuries.

Coming of age for adolescent health – A UCL Global Health Symposium

This was held on Weds 9 September 2009 430-630

Young people have traditionally been seen as healthy and low users of health services. In the modern era, the pressures of economic development and social change have particularly impacted on young people, increasing mortality and ill health at a time when younger child mortality has decreased rapidly.

Speakers and panellists included Dr Russell Viner (UCL Institute of Child Health), Professor George Patton (University of Melbourne), Professor Susan Sawyer (University of Melbourne) and Professor Sir Michael Marmot (UCL Epidemiology & Public Health), who presented new data on adolescent and young adult health globally and discussed the challenges for global health policy to improve the health of young people. Professor Anne Johnson, Co-Director of the UCL Institute for Global Health, chaired the symposium.

The symposium was linked with the publication by Patton, Sawyer and Viner of a paper on global mortality amongst young people in The Lancet.

For details of the symposium and a pod-cast, click here.

New Nuffield Professor of Child Health

Professor Terence Stephenson will join the Unit as Professor and Head of Unit from 1 October 2009. Professor Stephenson is currently Dean of the Medical School at Nottingham University and President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

Global patterns of mortality in young people: a systematic analysis of population health data

Dr.Russell Viner is a co-author on this LANCET paper, published 12 Sept 2009.

NEW NUFFIELD PROFESSOR OF CHILD HEALTH

Professor Terence Stephenson will join the Unit as Professor and Head of Unit from 1 October 2009.

Page last modified on 16 mar 11 16:44