BIBLIOGRAPHIC INPUT SHEET TEMPORARY Patterns of mortality ...

Chapter 1. Origin and Initial Phases
3
of mortality is then presented (Chapter Chapter XVII describes the extent to
IV), with comparisons drawn between data which additional information available in
developed in the Investigation and those in hospitals and from autopsy protocols conofficial
publications. Mortality in infancy tributed to improved assignment of under­
(under 1 year) and in early childhood (1-4 lying causes.
years), which is analyzed in Chapters V Complex health problems affecting the
and VII, shows wide variations and the mother may be leading to low birth weights
information compiled indicates the great and lack of growth and development of the
reductions that could be achieved in Latin child, and hence to high vulnerability to
America, as illustrated by the levels at- infectious diseases in infancy and childtained
in two of the study projects. Because hood. Thus the final chapter outlines steps
of the special health problems characteristic for improving the health of mothers, as
of the first few days of life -a period that well as infants and children, and for redetermines
survival-mortality in the neo- ducing mortality through planning of health
natal period is analyzed in depth in Cha- programs on a multidisciplinary basis. Also,
ter VI.
attention is drawn to the need for orienting
Following the study of mortality by age teaching in the health sciences toward the
group, a complete analysis is made of the solution of local problems that were redata
on infectious diseases, nutritional deficiency,
important congenital diseases and anomalies, conditions and such other as vealed inThe patterns in the specific of mortality projects. shown to exist
imaligant diseoass ando sun s dea in 15 widely separated areas of the Hemismalignant
neoplasms and sudden death phere are so diverse and surprising that
(Chapters VIII-XI).
there can be no doubt as to the need for
Birth order of the deceased child and age further development of community-centered
of the mother, which influence the level of research as a tool for uncovering health
infant mortality, are analyzed in Chapter re ms andoolannrngncoveringforth
XII, dealing with reproduction and repro- solution.
ductive wastage.
This publication is the first in a series of
In the evaluation of other factors respon- reports on the findings; others presenting
sible for or contributing to serious health I the idifro speseofith
use
problems, attention is given to limited
of breast feeding as an obstacle to the im- population, with information regarding livprovement
of child health (Chapter XIII). ing children under 5 years of age, will follow.
Also, specific aspects of the results
The educational level of the mother was
found to be a satisfactory overall measure will receive intensive analysis. The imporof
socioeconomic status, and its relation to tant contributions made by the principal
childhood mortality is discussed in Chap- collaborators and their staffs and the need
ter XIV.
to make this information available to them,
The medical and health care provided as well as to international agencies, justify
and certain environmental factors are con- the immediate release of this present acsidered
in Chapters XV and XVI, and the count of mortality in childhood, so that it
data clearly indicate the need for extenction may be used as a basis for action to deal
of programs in these fields.
with the problems uncovered.