Carola Leticia Bertone

Inequidades en salud entre países de Latinoamérica y el Caribe (2005-2010)

OBJECTIVE To identify health inequalities among Latin American and Caribbean countries in recent years (2005-2010), based on the view that measurement of inequalities is the first step in identifying health inequities. METHOD We performed an ecological study, whose units of analysis were 20 Latin American and Caribbean countries. These units were used to build the Inequalities in Health Index. This index summarizes, in a value ranging from 0 to 1, a set of socio-economic and health indicators, developed by international organizations. These indicators are considered as proximal and contextual determinants of health. RESULTS According to the index calculated, the five countries with the worst health status were Haiti, Guatemala, Bolivia, Venezuela and Honduras. In contrast, the five countries with the most favorable health status were Cuba, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and Mexico. CONCLUSION Even today, there are wide health inequalities in Latin America and the Caribbean. The country with the most favorable health indicators was Cuba and that with the least favorable was Haiti. We recommend systematic evaluation of health inequalities in Latin America and the Caribbean through the Inequalities in Health Index and other indices, in order to analyze actions, policies and programs to reduce inequities in this region.

Mortalidad relacionada con el consumo de alcohol y su impacto en la esperanza de vida de la población del Noroeste Argentino, 2011

Mortality related to alcohol consumption and its impact on life expectancy of the Argentinian Northwestern population, 2011 Out of the deaths that occurred in 2012 worldwide, 5.9% were caused by harmful consumption of alcohol (WHO, 2014). In Argentina, during 2008 there were 11,013 deaths attributed to alcohol consumption (3.6% of total deaths in population) (ACOSTA, BERTONE e PELÁEZ, 2012). Alcohol consumption per capita by people aged 15 and over in Argentina remained at around 9.5 liters of pure alcohol (equivalent to 25 grams of alcohol per day), considering average figures for the years 2003-2005 and 2008-2010 (WHO, 2014). This quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study aims to analyze mortality attributable to alcohol consumption in the provinces of the Argentinian Northwest in 2011, and how this affects life expectancy of these populations. The methodologies proposed by the CDC (1990) Mortality Attributable to Alcohol Consumption (MACA) and Years of Lost Life Expectancy (AEVP) have been applied (ARRIAGA, 1996). Data provided by DEIS (vital statistics) and INDEC (EnPreCoSP-2011 and population projections) have been used. This article seeks to provide updated information on the status of mortality attributable to alcohol consumption, which is a contribution to public health in order to assess the implementation of appropriate strategies.