The first study into global deaths among 10-24 years olds has found that 2.6 million children and young people died in 2004, two in five of them from injuries and violence (Lancet 2009,374:881-92, doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(09)60741-8). The findings call into question the focus of worldwide child health policies, which prioritise HIV/AIDS and maternal mortality, say the authors .

Most deaths (2.56 million or 97%) among children and young people occurred in poor and middle income countries, two thirds of them (1.67 million) in sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia, despite these regions containing just 42% of the juvenile population, the study found. High income countries had only 3% of the deaths, despite having 11% of the population in the age range studied.

The study found that the risk of dying between the ages …