[Mortality among Japanese migrants living in the State of Parana, Brazil]. / Mortalidade em migrantes japoneses residentes no Paraná, Brasil.

INTRODUCTION: Taking as a premise that the study concerning the morbimortality of migrant populations may make a contribution to a better understanding of the epidemiology of diseases, mainly the chronic-degenerative ones and their related risk factors, the aim of this study is an analysis of the mortality experience of a population of migrants born in Japan, but living in the State of Paraná, Brazil, and a comparison of their pattern of mortality with those of Japan and Paraná. METHODS: The population studied was composed of the Japanese migrants - Issei - living in the State of Parana, Brazil, of more than 50 years of age, identified in the X General Brazilian Census of 1st September, 1991. Information on deaths which occurred between 1st March 1990 and 28th February, 1993, was obtained through the Ministry of Health data base. The main causes of death were analysed after the calculation of the age-adjusted death rates, using the world standard population older than 50 years old, for each sex, for the Issei, the inhabitants in Japan and in Paraná. Standardized Risk Ratio - SRR - and respective 95% confidence interval were estimated for selected causes among Issei versus the population living in Japan and Issei versus persons living in Paraná. RESULTS: Among the main results, it was observed that the female Issei mortality rate was in an intermediary position when compared to Japan's and Paraná's rates, while men showed figures quite close to the Japanese rates. Concerning the specific causes, it was observed that among male Issei, when compared to the Japanese population, the rates were significantly lower for stomach, but higher for diabetes and ischaemic heart diseases. Regarding the female Issei aged 50 or more years old, only the death rate for lung cancer was itself significantly lower than that of Japanese women. When compared to the Paraná pattern, the male Issei rates were lower regarding ischaemic heart and cerebrovascular diseases. Concerning stomach and lung cancer, there was no statistical difference. The female Issei rates were lower for lung cancer and ischaemic heart diseases. Regarding diabetes and cerebrovascular diseases, no significant difference among rates was detected. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained make it possible to assert a deviation in the Issei pattern of mortality from that of their country of origin (Japan) and a perseptible approximation to the pattern of their new homeland (Paraná). Such observations suggest the influence of socio-cultural factors, mainly dietary habits, on their morbi-mortality.

[Characteristics of mortality in traffic accidents in an area of Southern Brazil]. / Characterísticas da mortalidade por acidentes de trânsito em localidade da região Sul do Brasil.

OBJECTIVE: The mortality by traffic accidents is discussed by means of the characterization of residents who died as a result of accidents in 1992. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study population was made up of all the victims of accidents which occurred in 1992 and who died in the same year. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The majority of victims were males between the ages of 20 and 49 years who were pedestrians (29%), motorcycle riders (34%) or cyclists (18%). The accidents occurred mostly in the early afternoon and evening at crossroads of the busiest avenues. It may be concluded that even in the interior towns the consequences of traffic accidents constitute one of the principal hazards to the population's health and reveal a distinct pattern that calls for measures specific prevention.

[Probability of dying in the first year of life in an urban area of southern Brazil]. / Probabilidade de morrer no primeiro ano de vida em área urbana da região sul, Brasil.

A birth-cohort of 4,876 children born alive in hospital were selected and followed through up to the age of one year with a view to estimating the risk of dying in the first year of life. All of them were born in 1989, in one of the seven hospitals of an urban area of Southern Brazil and the only requirement for belonging to the cohort was that of residence on the area. The selected variables were: sex, birthweight, age at moment of death, underlying cause of death, and maternal age. The estimated probability of dying in the first year was of 19.9 per 1,000 (77.3% of the deaths occurred during the neonatal period). Perinatal causes and congenital malformations contributed to 80% of the deaths, and infectious diseases were the underlying cause of death in only 1.1% of the losses. The risk of dying in the first year of life due to afections arising during the perinatal period was higher among vaginally delivered babies (20.3 per 1,000) than it was for those born by cesarean section (9 per 1,000). A higher probability of death was present among infants born to adolescent mothers, and those with low birthweight (less than 2,500g). The results brought out the need for improving the quality of prenatal and infant care. They also suggested the hypothesis of a possible association between higher infant mortality and lower socio-economic level.

PIP: A birth cohort of 4876 children born alive in 7 hospitals in an urban area of southern Brazil was selected and followed through up to the age of one year, with a view to estimating the risk of dying in the first year of life. Information on death was collected from death certificates. A total of 103 deaths were located in Maringa, of which 97 occurred in 1989. All of them were born in 1989, and the only requirement for belonging to the cohort was that of residence in the area. The selected variables were: sex, birth weight (low, adequate, and normal), age at moment of death (neonatal, late neonatal, and post neonatal) underlying cause of death (according to the International Classification of Diseases--9th Revision), and maternal age. The estimated probability of dying in the first year was of 19.9 per 1000 (77.3% of the deaths occurred during the neonatal period) in contrast with the official rate of 22.6/1000. The probability of dying in late infancy was 4.5/1000 compared to 15.4 in neonatal age. Perinatal causes and congenital malformations contributed to 80% of the deaths, and infectious diseases were the underlying cause of death in only 1.1% of the losses. 63.8% of infant deaths were caused by ailments acquired in the perinatal period, yielding a probability of death of 12.3/1000. The risk of a female infant dying was 1.4 higher than that of a male. The risk of dying in the fist year of life owing to ailments arising during the perinatal period was higher among vaginally delivered babies (20.3 per 1000) than it was for those born by caesarian section (9 per 1000). A higher probability of death was present among infants born to adolescent mothers, and those with low birth weight (less than 2500 g). The results signify the need to improve the quality of prenatal and infant care, and suggest the possible association between high infant mortality and lower socioeconomic level.

[Under-registration of hospital live births in a urban area of the southern region of Brazil, in 1989]. / Sub-registro de nascimentos vivos hospitalares em área urbana da regiäo sul do Brasil, em 1989.

With a view to evaluating the real situation of the vital statistics as regards their completeness in the city of Maringá, Paraná State, Brazil, 4,876 hospital live births which occurred during 1989 were studied. The rate of under-registration was estimated as 9.1%, varying according to maternal age, parity and financial condition. The results lead to the hypothesis of an association between under registration and lower socioeconomical levels. The study also describes all the necessary steps to establish the link between the two sets of events, live birth and legal registration.