Patrones de mortalidad temprana y su uso como base de la planificación de la acción sanitaria

Abstract

A description is given of the so-called "patterns of early mortality", which consist in representing in the form of graphs and index figures, taking as the basis the number of deaths in those under 28 days of age, the mortality of the other age groups under five. It is pointed out that effective health action is that which tends to transform Type A into Type B countries, and Type B into Type C countries; these types are shown in Figure 1

In Venezuela an analysis of the principal causes of death in various age groups, especially the age group 1 to 11 months, and the age group 1 year, shows those that require the most care. If priority is given to gastroenteritic diseases, influenza and pneumonias, infectious diseases (especially dysenteries, whooping cough, and measles), bronchitis, and the avitaminoses, what is apparently a complex problem of infant health can be greatly reduced, since preferential attention to these causes will quickly reap marked benefits in reducing mortality rates. Until such time as the mortality of the age group 1-11 months is not lower than that of the age group under 1-month, it will not be worthwhile paying greater attention to the latter group. However, in countries where tetanus neonatorum is an important cause of mortality, a campaign against it will produce marked improvement. The same approach, with slight variations, is considered valid also for other ...(AU)