BACKGROUND: We used nationally representative data to examine trends in under-five unintentional suffocation mortality from 2006 to 2016 in China and mortality differences across age groups, sexes, rural vs urban locations and injury mechanisms.
METHODS: Mortality data came from 161 surveillance points of China's disease surveillance points (DSPs) system. Unintentional suffocation deaths were identified through the 10th International Classification of Disease (ICD-10 codes: w75-w84). Negative binomial regression tested the significance of change in overall and subgroup mortality between 2006 and 2016.
RESULTS: Despite minor fluctuations, a steady trend in overall age-adjusted unintentional suffocation mortality was observed from 2006 to 2016 in Chinese children under 5 years of age. Infants (<1 year), boys and rural children had higher mortality rates than children aged 1-4 years, girls and urban children, respectively. Strangulation and suffocation in bed was the most common cause of mortality for infants, accounting for 66% of deaths. Children aged 1-4 years suffered more often from inhalation suffocation (55% of deaths).
CONCLUSIONS: Unintentional suffocation mortality rates in under-five children remained fairly stable in China over the past decade but remained at high levels. We discuss actions that might be implemented to reduce pediatric suffocation rates in China.