[Retrospective study on the mortality of children under 5 in a rural district of the region of Brazzaville (People's Republic of Congo). I. Rate and causes of mortality].

A retrospective study of 1,003 children permits us to identify precisely rates and causes of mortality in children under 5 years old in a rural holoendemic malaria area of the People's Republic of the Congo. The mortality rates are distinctly lower than those generally observed in tropical Africa. Infant mortality (0-1 year) was found to be 71%, mortality 13%, early neonatal mortality (0-7 days) 41% and mortality between 1-5 years, 49%. Main causes of mortality are those related to pregnancy (prematurity, obstetrical pathology) and with infectious diseases particularly measles. On the other hand, no death seems to be attributable directly to malaria in this study.