Resumen

NORIEGA BRAVO, Vivian de las Mercedes  y  ASTRAIN RODRIGUEZ, María Elena. Avoidable mortality according to the living conditions of adults in La Lisa municipality, 1996-1998. Rev Cubana Salud Pública [online]. 2004, vol.30, n.4, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-3127.

A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed on the avoidable mortality according to the living conditions in a population segment aged 20-59 years from La Lisa municipality, City of Havana province from 1996 to 1998. Health areas making up the territory were taken as analysis units. This territory has been previously studied and stratified according to the existing living conditions into two strata, one with favorable living conditions and the other with less favorable living conditions. The analysis was supported on two different lines: using the indicator that estimated premature mortality, that is, “Lost years of life by standard (LYLS)and the list of grouping of causes of death by avoidability criteria. Three-year rates were calculated by taking the quotient between the average number of deaths for the three studied years, according to sex, cause and group of criteria variables, and taking as denominator the population corresponding to each stratum of the central year of the three-year period. Rates were estimated for both sexes and separately and also, relative differences and rate ratio per sex were obtained for comparison. Premature mortality was slightly higher in the stratum with more favorable living conditions and in males. The highest levels of avoidable mortality were found in the stratum with less favorable living conditions taking all the criteria into account. Although there was excessive mortality for men in both strata, the risk of dying was higher in women due to causes that are avoidable on the basis of early diagnosis and treatment. Violent death including accidents and homicides showed the highest possibilities for reduction of avoidable mortality in the period.

Palabras clave : LIVING CONDITIONS; POPULATION STRATUM; POPULATION SETTLEMENT; AVOIDABLE DEATH; AVOIDABILITY CRITERIA.