Articles: mortality.
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Comparative Study
Review of available Aboriginal mortality data, 1980-1982.
An analysis of the available population and death data confirms that the level of Aboriginal mortality is significantly higher than that of the total Australian population. The mortality of Aborigines in the Kimberley region of Western Australia in 1980-1982 was twice that of the total Australian population in 1981; for the Northern Territory, and for 14 Queensland and five South Australian Aboriginal communities the level was 3-31/2 times higher. In 1980-1981, Aboriginal mortality in country regions of New South Wales was 41/2 times the 1981 Australian total population level. In 1980-1982, specific indices of Aboriginal fetal and infant mortality in these regions and for Western Australia (excluding the Kimberley region) were generally at least 2-4 times those of non-Aboriginal Australians, and up to 7 times higher for deaths occurring after the neonatal period.
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The total number of Aboriginal deaths occurring in selected country regions of New South Wales in 1980 and 1981 has been estimated, based on the deaths reported by Aboriginal health workers and those identified on the newly modified Form of Notification of Death. Aboriginal mortality was more than four times that of the total NSW population, with young and middle-aged adults having death rates up to 12 times higher. ⋯ The principal causes of death were diseases of the circulatory system and injuries. The effect of alcohol appeared to be substantial, particularly in the 35-44 year age group.
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In 1982 Costa Rica had an infant mortality of 18 per 1000 live births and a life expectancy at birth of 76 years for women and 72 years for men. In the evolution of infant health in Costa Rica two paradigms were identified. One developed in the decades before 1970 and the other during the 1970s. ⋯ The "infectious disease paradigm" recognized infectious diseases as the main determinants of morbidity, mortality and malnutrition in childhood. The strategies derived from such a revolutionary paradigm aimed at the control and eradication of infectious diseases, and they resulted in a rapid improvement of child nutrition and health. However, the infectious disease paradigm does not seem to reduce infant mortality below the present level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)