ABSTRACT
PIP: This work describes the methodology and demonstrates the utility of usual limits of variation as an instrument of diagnosis and analysis of the status of infant mortality at a given moment. The method is illustrated using Cuban data for 1980-84 and the 1st 6 months of 1985 at the national and provincial levels. The infant mortality rate was always under 20/1000 live births during the 5 years. Monthly level provincial data on births and infant deaths were used to calculate infant mortality rates and to identify the limits of usual variation. The processing was done manually and the results were expressed as rates represented graphically, showing the monthly maximum, minimum, and median. 4 separate areas of the graphs were identified: the success zone under the minimum curve, the security zone between the minimum and average curve, the alert zone between the average and maximum curve, and the alarm zone above the maximum curve. Cuba's highest infant mortality rates have occurred in the months of June and July for the 1980-84 series. A rate above the maximum suggests a deterioration of the infant mortality situation. The same series can be calculated for early or late neonatal or postneonatal mortality, for mortality by specific causes, or in smaller geographic areas. The usefulness of the technique is diminished if the area or the period of analysis becomes too small. Established limits of usual variation should be updated at least every 2 years.^ieng
Subject(s)
Evaluation Studies as Topic , Infant Mortality , Research Design , Americas , Caribbean Region , Cuba , Demography , Developing Countries , Geography , Latin America , Mortality , North America , Population , Population Dynamics , Research , SeasonsABSTRACT
Se plantea que en 1973 se realizó, en Cuba una investigación sobre morbimortalidad en el período perinatal. De los nacidos vivos con 1 000 o más gramos de peso durante la primera semana del estudio, 4 378 niños sobrevivieron a las 168 horas (7 días) de vida extrauterina. Con motivo de realizarse un estudio de seguimiento a dicho grupo, a los siete meses de edad fue necesario revisar la relación entre: lugar en que ocurrió el parto y lugar de residencia de la madre. Ello permitió conocer la magnitud y sentido de las migraciones con motivo del parto. Se señala que el país se encontraba dividido en 44 regiones, las que se tomaron como unidad territorial de referencia de los desplazamientos de las madres. El 12 porciento de las mujeres (527 del total) parió en regiones diferentes, no en su residencia habitual (AU)
Subject(s)
Postnatal Care , Prenatal Care , ParturitionABSTRACT
Se describen algunas características de la preparación de artículos científicos y se expone la inconveniencia de seguir sistemáticamente normas o guías demasiado rígidas en la secuencia de sus partes o la estructura general. Se enumeran y describen brevemente deficiencias detectadas en artículos publicados en revistas médicas periódicas, con la intención de alertar a los autores jóvenes sobre las diferencias entre los problemas de redacción, ordenamiento, presentación y cumplimiento de requisitos exigidos por los editores, y los errores del contenido científico del artículo como tal. Dentro de éstos últimos se comentan la falta de definición de objetivos, algunos criterios sobre el empleo de la bibliografía, la insuficiente descripción de métodos y procedimientos, la tendencia excesiva a la generalización de resultados obtenidos de universos limitados y otros. Sobre un número escaso de libros o documentos de referencia se hacen 30 citas bibliográficas (AU)
Subject(s)
Documentation/methods , Documentation/standards , Periodical/standardsABSTRACT
A survey of bronchial asthma prevalence and inheritance patterns was carried out in the municipality of San Antonio de los Banõs, La Habana, Cuba, employing as a sample 3,295 of the area's inhabitants. These persons, selected by stratified, non-restricted sampling techniques, represented 11.02 per cent of the total population. The asthma prevalence found in this sample, which was considered representative of the local population, was 9.74 percent. No significant variations were noted in male and female prevalence rates. The occurrence of bronchial asthma is strongly influenced by inheritance. Our survey supported this view, and also showed that the age of asthma onset is influenced by whether or not the subject's family has a positive history of allergy or not. However, patients with a positive history on one side of their family had an age of onset that was not significantly different from patients with a positive history on both sides (p less than 0.35). Overall, the results tend to confirm that the inheritance of bronchial asthma is autosomal and does not conform to simple dominant or recessive inheritance patterns. Rather, asthma inheritance appears multifactorial, perhaps involving varying degrees of expression, indicating that more is involved than absence or deficiency of a single enzyme.
Subject(s)
Asthma/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Asthma/genetics , Child , Child, Preschool , Cuba , Demography , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Sampling StudiesABSTRACT
A survey of bronchial asthma prevalence and inheritance patterns was carried out in the municipality of San Antonio de los Banâs, La Habana, Cuba, employing as a sample 3,295 of the area's inhabitants. These persons, selected by stratified, non-restricted sampling techniques, represented 11.02 per cent of the total population. The asthma prevalence found in this sample, which was considered representative of the local population, was 9.74 percent. No significant variations were noted in male and female prevalence rates. The occurrence of bronchial asthma is strongly influenced by inheritance. Our survey supported this view, and also showed that the age of asthma onset is influenced by whether or not the subject's family has a positive history of allergy or not. However, patients with a positive history on one side of their family had an age of onset that was not significantly different from patients with a positive history on both sides (p less than 0.35). Overall, the results tend to confirm that the inheritance of bronchial asthma is autosomal and does not conform to simple dominant or recessive inheritance patterns. Rather, asthma inheritance appears multifactorial, perhaps involving varying degrees of expression, indicating that more is involved than absence or deficiency of a single enzyme (Au)
