Deaths in children during the early twentieth and twenty-first century in Boyacá, Colombia

• Published in: Revista de salud pública (Bogotá, Colombia) Vol. 14 Suppl 2; pp. 15 - 31
• Main Authors: Manrique-Abril, Fred G, Martínez-Martín, Abel F, Meléndez-Álvarez, Bernardo F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Colombia 01.06.2012
• Subjects: Accidents - mortality; Cause of Death; Child; Child Mortality - history; Child Mortality - trends; Child, Preschool; Colombia; Female; Gastrointestinal Diseases - mortality; Health Policy; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Humans; Infant; Infant Mortality - history; Infant Mortality - trends; Infant, Newborn; Influenza, Human - history; Influenza, Human - mortality; Male; Pandemics - history; Prenatal Care - trends; Respiratory Tract Diseases - mortality; Rural Population - statistics & numerical data; Vaccination - history; Vaccination - utilization; Violence; Colombia
• ISSN: 0124-0064

Comparing and analysing crude death (CDR), child mortality (CMR) 5-year per thousand live births (LBR) and infant mortality rates (IMR) in the Boyacá department, Colombia, during the early 20th and 21st centuries. A descriptive epidemiological comparative historical approach was adopted. Two data sources were used for deaths: parish registers 1912-1927 and the Boyacá Epidemiological Bulletin 2007 population census for 1912-1918-1927 and 2005 (Colombian Statistics Bureau - DANE); data was stored and analysed in Mysql. Crude rates, age-specific and child mortality ratios and mortality were calculated by cause. 7,958 deaths were recorded from 1912-1927 compared to 5,813 in the 21st century. CDR dropped from 150 to 42 deaths per 10,000 inhabitants; the IMR became significantly reduced from 231 to 17 for every 1,000 LB. Although specific rates for children under 8 years of age could be compared to children under 5, there was variability in the range and construction of the specific MR and that defined by WHO-UNICEF. There was a higher reduction in mortality in the 21st century due to national and international policies for controlling preventable diseases and maternal death. The 1918-19 flu pandemic significantly affected mortality in all population groups; violent causes were prominent in infant mortality in the 21st century.