Abstract

MOYA, José; SANABRIA, José; MAGLOIRE, Roc  and  HEDVIVERT, Charleine. Leading causes of mortality in Haití in 2000: AIDS impact. Rev Cubana Hig Epidemiol [online]. 2007, vol.45, n.1, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-3003.

This article described the leading causes of death by age groups and sex using death certificates registered in Haiti in 2000. A team from the Ministry of Public Health, the Cuban Medical Cooperation and the Pan American Health Organization collected, coded and entered the death certificates registered in 2000 in a data base. A total of 9 232 certificates were registered. AIDS was the leading cause of mortality with 8,7 % of the total of certificates with well defined diagnoses; this percentage increased to 22,7 % in the 25 to 44 y age group. Diarrhea-gastroenteritis was the second largest cause of death but would also include AIDS cases since 57 % of the total number of cases occurred in people over 15 years of age. Eclampsia is the leading cause of maternal death. The average age of women at death from tuberculosis was 12 years younger than men. AIDS mortality affects both men and women. Despite the very high under-reporting and the limitations to make assumptions at the national level, the article seeks to provide health information that can be used for health programs in the most needed country of Latin America.

Keywords : Haiti; mortality; HIV/AIDS; maternal mortality.