DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sjams.2026.v14i07.004

Pages: 1025-1030

Objective: Pneumonia remains a leading cause of preventable mortality among children worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Comprehensive national estimates of pneumonia-related mortality in children remain limited. To describe the epidemiology of pneumonia-related mortality in individuals under 15 years of age in Ecuador in 2023. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using mortality data from the National Mortality Registry, administered by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) of Ecuador. Pneumonia-related deaths were identified based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10), codes J12–J18. Crude mortality rates for pneumonia in children under 15 years of age were calculated using registered deaths and 2023 population projections. Results: Out of 3,843 pneumonia deaths nationwide, 303 (7.9%) occurred in individuals under 15 years, corresponding to a crude mortality rate of 6.6 per 100,000 (95% CI: 5.9–7.4). Children <5 years accounted for 52.5% of deaths, with the highest frequencies at ages 1–3 years. Males comprised 53.1% of cases. Most deaths (79.5%) were coded as unspecified pneumonia (J18). Mortality rates were highest in high-altitude Andean provinces such as Chimborazo (20.4/100,000; 95% CI: 12.4–28.4) and Cotopaxi (20.3/100,000; 95% CI: 12.3–28.3). Indigenous children represented 11.9% of deaths. Conclusions: Pneumonia remains an important cause of childhood mortality in Ecuador, particularly among young children, high-altitude provinces, and indigenous populations. These findings highlight the urgent need to strengthen preventive strategies vaccination, nutritional support, and early detection while addressing diagnostic limitations and ensuring equitable access to care.