Preventable childhood deaths in Wolverhampton.

A retrospective survey was undertaken of all deaths in children under 5 in the borough of Wolverhampton over the years 1976-82. Cause of death was classified in terms of preventability and possibly preventable deaths studied in more detail. Birth weight in the study group was significantly lower than that of the local population; there was no difference in ethnic origin, but there were significantly more Asian girls than Asian boys. The association between potentially preventable death and various socioeconomic indicators in the electoral wards in the borough was investigated. A significant association was found between mortality and overcrowding, lack of household amenities, unemployment, lack of car ownership, and households where the head was born in the new Commonwealth or Pakistan.