BIBLIOGRAPHIC INPUT SHEET TEMPORARY Patterns of mortality ...

12 Pattermn of Mortalityin Childhood
separated from the Republic of Chile by
the Cordillera of the Andes. The Province
extends over 96,493 kM 2 , of which 10,228
km 2 are inhabited valleys (10.6 per cent
of the total), 8,000 km 2 nonirrigated valleys,
and the remainder mountainous zones.
The valleys are situated from 600 to 3,000
meters above sea level.
Although precipitation is scarce (less
than 100 mm annually), the Province has
a basically agricultural economy. The irrigated
valleys-in which 98 per cent of the
population of the Province lives-depend
principally on the San Juan and Jackal
Rivers and their tributaries; the hydraulic
system, which draws water from more than
2
4,000 wells, cover 1,500 kmn of this zone.
Among the main agricultural products
are grapes, which are grown for export and
for the wine industry. The favorable climate
and soil conditions have led to a vigorous
expansion of olive cultivation. Mining
is conducted on a relatively small scale,
but has been expanding in recent years.
The National University of Cuyo, in the
neighboring Province of Mendoza, has its
seven departments, considered rural, with a
population oi 141,530.
This rural population represents the largest
rural area in the Investigation, the seeond
largest being in Chaco (109,300 inhabitants)
and the third largest in El Salvador
(three rural municipios with 61,590). Population
estimates for the San Juan and Chaco
projects are based on censuses taken on 30
September 1960 and 30 September 1970,
respectively.
The principal collaborator was the Director
of Health of the Province and delegate
of the National Health Ministry to the
Province. Consequently, the contributions
of this project differed from those of the
others, for which faculty members of universities
were responsible. For example,
regulations governing improved procedures
could be introduced immediately to overcome
deficiencies in registration uncovered
during the first year of the Investigation.
BOLIVIA Project
The project in Bolivia wvas selected in
order to include a high-altitude area with
School of Engineering he an ityof u'm and Meica Exact an Sciences helthThe its distinct city of La problems Paz is and situated characteristics. at an altiin
the city of San .Juan. Medical and health
establishments in the Province are well distributecd
in the cities, suburban localities,
and small communities. A large general
hospital provides services for the provincial
capital and suburban departments as well
as for some of the rural areas.
The estimated population of the Province
(1 August 1969) was 384,020. For this Investigation,
three subdivisions of the 16
departments were made: the Capital Department,
comprising the city of San Juan
with 111,740 inhabitants; four suburban
departments around the capital (Chimbas,
Rawson, Rivadavia, and Santa Lucia) with
130,750 inhabitants; and the remaining
tude of 3,632 meters in a valley of erosion
at the edge of snow-capped Mount Illiiani.
The highest international airport in the
world-at 4,020 meters above sea levelis
found nearby. In recent years the city
has grown outward toward the highland
plateau, into new areas numbering more
than 100,000 inhabitants. It has extended
to and beyond the community of Obrajes,
and at present covers 51 ki . Conditions
in the area are governed by its irregular
and abrupt topography. Average temperatures
vary between 18.80C maximum in
summer and 2.00C minimum in winter.
The estimated population of La Paz at
midpoint in the project (1 July 1969) was
2