Abstract

LOPEZ NISTAL, Libia Margarita; GRAN ALVAREZ, Miriam Alicia; ALBIZU-CAMPOS ESPINEIRA, Juan Carlos  and  ALONSO ALOMA, Ismell. Sex differences in mortality in Cuba compared to the international context. Rev Cubana Salud Pública [online]. 2013, vol.39, n.1, pp. 32-44. ISSN 0864-3466.

Objective: To identify the changes in mortality by sex occurred in the Cuban population in comparison with the changes observed in other countries. Methods: Descriptive and documentary research study (1950-2015). Arriaga's method was used to analyze the contribution of age groups to life expectancy at birth by sex and countries. The comparisons used Coale and Demeny's mortality model and the mortality rates of Japan in 2000. Results: The pattern of mortality in the Cuban females was similar to that of the developed countries, whereas the differences by sex were comparable to that of the less developed nations. When making the comparison between the Cuban men and women mortality rates with those in the Coale and Demeny's mortality model, the Cuban men were found in an advantageous position, but the Cuban women were not, which expressed reserves in their pattern of mortality, and consequently, in the life expectancies of the Cubans. In comparison of the pattern of survival of Cuba with that of Japan, the biggest potentialities for the survival of Cubans were at the expense of the adult female aged 35 years and over. Conclusions: The changes of sex differences in the life expectancies at birth of the Cuban population are small if compared to those of other countries. The main reserves in terms of mortality of the Cuban population lie in the female, particularly the adult woman aged 60 years and over.

Keywords : sex difference; life expectancy at birth; mortality.

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