This is
the VOA Special English Health Report.A new
study from the World Health Organization says fifty-nine million people died
from all causes in two thousand four. Ten million of them were children.
The
report says almost half of all the people who died were under the age of sixty.
About twenty percent of them were under fourteen.
Colin
Mathers was the lead author of the study. He is the W.H.O.'s coordinator for
epidemiology and burden of disease. He says the research points to major
differences around the world.
COLIN
MATHERS: "Africa stands out. The burden of disease, premature mortality is
twice as high as for other developing regions in the world. And a substantial
component of that burden is because of the high levels of child mortality in
Africa compared to other regions. Half of all deaths in Africa are children
under fifteen to compare with high income countries where one percent of deaths
are under fifteen -- a huge difference."
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| Sam Jones from Doctors Without Borders treats a patient in southern Sudan |
The
number one cause of death around the world is heart disease, followed by
strokes. Four of the ten leading causes of death worldwide are infectious
diseases. These are pneumonia, infectious diarrhea, H.I.V./AIDS and
tuberculosis. Other leading causes of death are lung disease, cancers of the
windpipe and lungs, road accidents and low birth weight. The
research also shows that between the ages of fifteen and sixty, men have a much
higher risk of death than women. The
researchers say this is mainly because of injuries from violence, including
war.
The
study found that the Middle East produced fifty-five percent of the world's war
dead in two thousand four. The Middle East has about eight percent of the world
population.
Africa
has the highest risk of death for men under sixty, followed by eastern Europe.
The report says early deaths in Eastern Europe are mostly the result of
injuries and heart and lung disease. But deaths from accidental alcohol
poisoning are also common.
Worldwide,
almost fifteen percent of deaths in women of reproductive age in two thousand
four were related to pregnancy. More than five hundred thousand women died of
preventable problems during pregnancy or childbirth.
Another
finding in the report is a prediction that by two thousand thirty, tobacco will
cause ten percent of all deaths worldwide.
And
that's the VOA Special English Health Report. Transcripts and MP3s of our
reports are at voaspecialenglish.com. If you have a general question about
health, send it to special@voanews.com. And please tell us your name and where
you are. I'm Doug Johnson.