Deaths of children in NSW in 2016 and 2017: natural causes

In 2016 and 2017, 731 children aged 0-17 years died in NSW from natural causes. This represents three-quarters of all children who died in NSW over the same period, a mortality rate of 21 deaths per 100,000 children.

As shown in Table 1, more than two thirds of children who died from natural causes were infants. Most of these infants were neonates – aged under 29 days and born prematurely at less than 37 weeks of gestation.

Almost a third of children who died were living in the most disadvantaged areas in NSW.

Trends in natural causes

Over the 15 years to 2017, the rate for children who died from natural causes has significantly declined from 29 to 22 deaths per 100,000 children (Figure 1). This is mostly due to fewer infant deaths. However, the rate of death for Indigenous infants has remained higher than that for non-Indigenous infants.

Diseases and conditions

One fifth of deaths from natural causes were due to perinatal conditions such as extreme prematurity and complications of pregnancy (Table 2). This was followed by congenital and chromosomal conditions. Infants accounted for the majority of these deaths.

Almost one in ten children died from cancers and tumours. The rate was highest for children aged 1-4 years old.

In 2016 and 2017, seven children died from asthma. Factors that can increase the risk of asthma include poor adherence to medication, insufficient follow-up after a hospital presentation or admission, and lack of a written asthma action plan.

Trends in diseases and conditions

Over the 15-year period 2003-17:

Perinatal conditions

• Accounted for more than half of all infants who died NSW
• Nine out of 10 infants who died were neonates
• The mortality rate has declined
• Leading causes of death were extremely low birth weight and maternal complications of pregnancy

Cancers and tumours

• One third of children who died were under five years old
• There was no change in the mortality rate
• Leading causes of death were brain cancer and leukaemia

Respiratory diseases

• Two thirds of children who died were under five years old
• There was no change in the mortality rate
• Leading causes were lower respiratory tract infections and asthma

Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases

• More than half of children were under five years
• There was no change in the mortality rate
• Leading causes were metabolic diseases and cystic fibrosis

Congenital and chromosomal conditions

• Four in five children who died were infants
• There was no change in the mortality rate
• Leading causes of death were congenital malformations of the heart and brain

Diseases of the nervous system

• One third of children who died were infants
• The mortality rate has declined
• Leading causes were cerebral palsy and epilepsy

Circulatory diseases

• Almost half of children who died were under five years old
• The mortality rate has declined
• Leading causes were cardiomyopathy and myocarditis

Infectious diseases

• Three quarters of children who died were under five years old
• One tenth were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
• The mortality rate has declined
• Leading causes were sepsis and meningococcal disease

This page contains key information from the Biennial Report of the deaths of children in New South Wales: 2016 and 2017.

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NSW Child Death Review Team
NSW Ombudsman
Level 24, 580 George Street  
Sydney NSW 2000

Email cdrt@ombo.nsw.gov.au

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© State of New South Wales, June 2019
This publication is released under a Creative Commons license CC BY 4.0.