Final answer:
The leading cause of death in children under five in low-income countries is disease, including pneumonia, diarrhea, and infectious diseases like malaria. These issues can be mitigated with affordable healthcare, nutrition, and safe water. Accidental injuries are a major cause of death in the United States among children.
Step-by-step explanation:
The leading cause of death in children under five years old in low-income countries, according to the World Health Organization, is primarily disease. This includes conditions such as pneumonia, diarrhea, and infectious diseases like malaria. These causes of death, while significant, can largely be prevented or treated with affordable interventions such as immunization, proper nutrition, safe water, and adequate healthcare by trained providers.
Problems like malnutrition further increase the vulnerability of children to these diseases. Malnutrition is often exacerbated by factors such as inadequate water and sanitation provision, and poor hygienic practices. Intervention plans that address these basic needs can drastically reduce the mortality rate in this age group.
In contrast, in the United States, accidental injuries, including head and traumatic brain injuries mostly from falls or automobile accidents, are major causes of immediate death among children. Diseases such as cancer also contribute to mortality rates, but lifestyle choices and environmental factors play a significant role in many of these cases.