Some considerations on mortality in Brazil on 1980

Abstract

This study presents an analysis of the index of proportional mortality by age and causes of death for the Brazilian population in 1980. The study points out the poor-quality of the data, mainly in the North, Northeast and Middle-west regions and the Brazilian's low level of health: with proportional mortality under one year of age at 24.2% and proportional mortality over 50 years old at 48.9%, Nelson de Moraes' type III and Guedes' index at 8.0. The level of health in Brazil varies greatly from region to region. Dwellers in capital cities have a health index similar to that of the population of their respective state. In 1980 the proportional mortality for diseases of the circulatory system was 32.1%, for infectous and parasitic diseases 11.8%, for neoplasms 10.4% and for accidents, poisoning and injuries 11.8%. The index for North and Northeast regions indicate a worsening of conditions of health as compared with previous periods.