BIBLIOGRAPHIC INPUT SHEET TEMPORARY Patterns of mortality ...

Chapter XVII. Changes in Assignments of Causes of Death 335
Fia. 168. Final Assignments of Deaths of Children
Under 5 Years of Age from Measles and Diarrheal
Disease, Compared with Underlying Causes
Stated on Death Certificates in 14 Projects Cornbined.
MEASLES
11.777DATHSI
gena the numbers were larger from the death
certificates, but in all other projects the
reverse was noted (Figure 169). The failure
to state this common and easily recognizable
rDIARRHEAL DISEASE
455 DAINS disease on official records is an indication of
serious deficiencies in the certification of
1.5% 11.1%
causes of death.
Of the total of 7,455 diarrheal disease
deaths found on final assignment (Table
1113% s 198 and Figure 168), 824 had been certified
, ~ as )neumonia or influenza (11.1 per cent)
S.0% IA
and 570 as nutritional deficiency (7.6 per
,E. H Ccent).
DEATH CERTIFICATE CAUSE, Septicemia was certified as underlying
1MAN AS1E11 CAUSE C"f1UKEIA. IiL,utIA cause of 573 deaths while on final assign­
0io0EinFIvE DSEAs =sVKp1D.N. ILLf1111 COIDIIIONSment only 322 deaths (56 per cent) were so
=I U TEIII0 NAt DICIECY =0 11111 CAUSES classified (Table 197). The septicem ia was
often considered a consequence of other
infectious conditions such as diarrheal disthe
numbers were small for many of the ease, diseases of respiratory system or of
projects, it is evident that the underlying skin and subcutaneous tissue, certain percause
of these deaths is frequently not given natal causes of mortality, and others. In
on death certificates. In Recife only three very few deaths was septiceinia considered
deaths from whooping cough could have a contributory condition.
been known from the certificates, while 28
were found on final assignment. The increase
from 8 to 24 in Monterrey also points
to lack of information on this commun- FSo. 169. Diarrheal Disease as Underlying Cause
Based on Death Certificates and on Final Assignicable
disease of cOildhood. ments in Children Under 5 Years of Age in 12
On the whole, tuberculosis was usually Latin American Projects.
certified, only 10 per cent nore deaths from
,UMlE, OF DEATHS
this cause having been found on final assign- 400 goo 1200 1400
ment for the 14 projects combined. How- 1.
ever, in Recife the number of deaths nearly go FAsso
doubled, 59 on final assignment compared KNEmv _ ,_ _
with 31 on the basis of death certificates. HM PROJECT
0111 . .. ,
Diarrheal disease presents a puzzling
problem. It was unexpected to find 20 per cec mo -" ­
cent more deaths on final assignment than .mpos. ion
on the basis of death certificates, in spite war
of the fact that the final assignment dis- SAN JuAl nom
closed that many deaths from other causes
on 1110dP
,
had been attributed to diarrheal disease
rnD..,h cSE#,|lOe in|.|i ...i..
the certificates. In Recife, Cali, and Carta-