PIP: A cross-sectional survey on the pattern of causes of death and the age- specific mortality rate were carried out in 11 villages in the lowland swampy area of South Sumatra in September 1984. 954 housewives representing 4258 registered families with a population of 18.220 were interviewed to obtain information about incidence of deaths and causes of death among their family members over the past year. The infant mortality rate, the under 1-year age-specific mortality rate, the rate for those 1-4 years, 5-14 years, over the age of 15, and total mortality rate were 110.1, 116.5, 20.8, 5.4, 6.5, and 13.8/1000 population, respectively. The pattern for causes of death was not different than the finding of the 1980 National Household Survey (Ratna Sudiarso 1983). Tetanus neonatorum was the leading cause of death in neonates. ARTI and diarrheal diseases were the major causes of death among older children while febrile illness with convulsions played a significant role in causes of death among older children.