Effects of the Civil War in Central Mozambique and Evaluation of the Intervention of the International Committee of the Red Cross

In October 1994, a retrospective study of mortality of children was conducted in Maringué, adistrict of central Mozambique. Estimates based on maternity histories of 1503 women aged 15–60 years revealed complex changes in the under-5 death rate. During the colonial period (1955–1974), mortality declined from 373 to 270 per 1000. During the civil war period (1975–1991), mortality increased rapidly to reach a peak of 473 per 1000 in 1986. It declined again thereafter and reached a plateau of 380 in 1991. A health intervention conducted by the International Red Cross Committee since 1992 further reduced mortality to 269 per 1000 in 1994. Most of the 1992–1994 decline was attributable to vaccinations, in particular measles and tetanus immunizations, and to Vitamin A supplementation.