Title: [Mortality indicators in a small community]

POPLINE Document Number: 076049

Author(s):

Cabrera De Leon A
Galvez Vargas R
Sierra Lopez A

Source citation:

REVISTA DE SANIDAD E HIGIENE PUBLICA, 1991 Jan-Feb;65(1):39-44.

Abstract:

Mortality data are widely used in public health because of the ease of obtaining them; however, primary health care teams have frequently encountered low denominators owing to the low population figures in basic health zones. It is also difficult to obtain data from the civil register and the National Statistical Institute because of inaccurate delineation of health zone and municipal boundaries. Mortality indicators were measured in the district of San Matias de Taco in the city of La Laguna on the island of Tenerife. The population of low socioeconomic level living in poor conditions numbered over 5000. The municipal register of inhabitants of La Laguna and the municipal bulletin of the decreased was reviewed for a period of 3 months, and mortality data were collected for the years 1981 through 1985. The general mortality rate was calculated for San Matias and standardized for age using the method of Segi for a hypothetical population. Theoretical mortality distribution for San Matias age groups and for Santa Cruz de Tenerife province were calculated in this manner. Life expectancy was calculated using the method of Greville. For 1982 the standardized rate was 10.69 in San Matias, 5.32 in Santa Cruz, and 5.43 in Spain. Significant differences emerged between the average age-specific mortality rates for San Matias for 1981-85 and for Santa Cruz for 1983: age group 0-1 years, 34 vs. 24; age group 25-44 years, 42 vs. 36; and age group 45-64 years, 247 vs. 127. Life expectancy in San Cruz; 45 years for San Matias for age group 25-44 years vs. 55.3 years for Santa Cruz; and 26 years for age group 45-64 years vs. 36.8 years, respectively. This method is suitable for studying the mortality in a small community prompted by the assessment of the level of their health conditions.

Keywords:

Spain
Mortality
Age Specific Death Rate
Excess Mortality
Urban Population
Socioeconomic Factors
Life Expectancy
Low Income Population
Developed Countries
Europe, Southwestern
Europe
Population Dynamics
Demographic Factors
Population
Death Rate
Population Characteristics
Economic Factors
Length of Life
Social Class
Socioeconomic Status