Cause-specific mortality among Israeli adolescents in the 1980s.
OBJECTIVE
Considerable mortality occurs during adolescence despite it being a relatively healthy period of life. Nationwide analysis of adolescent mortality data helps identify those sub-groups with higher-than-expected death rates, that may be amenable to preventive intervention programs.


METHODS
Adolescent mortality in Israel during 1981-1986 is examined by age (10-14, 15-19 years), sex, population group (Jews, non-Jews), and cause of death. Data were abstracted primarily from special publications for 1981-1986. Recently available mortality updates for 1987-1989 were inspected and significant changes in mortality during the latter period have been included.


RESULTS
Among an average of approximately 800,000 adolescents aged 10-19 years living in Israel during 1981-1986, the majority (77%) were Jews. Overall mortality was 36.7 per 100,000. Death rates were almost twice as high for males as for females, increased with age for all population subgroups, and were 63% higher for non-Jews compared with Jews. Accidents were the major cause of death among Israeli adolescents (37.7% of total mortality), with male-to-female rate ratio of 3.4. Mortality from all external causes, including accidents, suicide, homicide, and other external causes accounted for 50.6% of all deaths. Neoplasms were the next major cause of death. Israel and U.S. adolescent mortality rates were compared and showed similar trends.


CONCLUSIONS
The non-Jewish minority adolescents, and most particularly the males, are at the highest risk of death. Preventive intervention programs should be targeted to the high-risk populations described.
Wilf-Miron
R
R
Pediatric Division, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Israel.
Gurvich
R
R
Barell
V
V
D000059:Accidents / Q000401:mortality; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006708:Homicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D007585:Jews / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D009026:Mortality; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011322:Primary Prevention; D012307:Risk Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology