Results are presented of a retrospective study of mortality undertaken in the central Mozambique province of Maringue in October 1994. The study involved 1,503 women aged 15-60. The focus of this monograph is on changes over time in the levels of mortality of children under five years of age. "During the colonial period (1955-1974), mortality declined from 373 to 270 per 1,000. During the civil war period (1975-1991), mortality increased rapidly to reach a peak of 473 per 1,000 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 the end of 1991 further reduced mortality to 269 per 1,000 in 1994. Most of the 1992-1994 decline was attributable to vaccinations, in particular measles and tetanus immunizations, and to Vitamin `A' supplementation.