Society

Injury fifth leading cause of death in China

By Wang Qingyun (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-10-22 18:35
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The latest results from the National Sample Survey of Cause of Death show that injury, including trauma and poisoning, has become the fifth major cause of death for Chinese citizens, Xinhua News Agency reported on Friday.

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The Report of the Third National Sample Survey of Cause of Death, from 2008, indicates that injury caused the fifth largest number of deaths from 2004 to 2005, claiming 10.1 percent of the total number of deaths, following brain disease, malignant tumor, respiratory disease and cardiac disease.

According to the survey, the most severe injuries were caused by traffic accidents, suicides, falls, drowning and poisoning.

China's suicide death rate was 13.09 per 100,000 people, at the lower middle area in a range from 10 per 100,000 to 20 per 100,000. The 15 years from 1990 to 2005 saw a continuing decrease of China’s suicide rate. In 2005, the rate in rural areas dropped one-third from 1991, and the rate for rural women dropped 48 percent.