Acute diarrheal diseases in Latin America, 1970-9. The situation in Cuba
Riverón-Corteguera, R.; Gutiérrez Muñiz, J.A.
Boletin de la Oficina Sanitaria Panamericana. Pan American Sanitary Bureau 92(6): 508-519
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0030-0632 PMID: 6213245 Document Number: 185317
Acute diarrheal diseases in Latin America and Cuba are studied on the basis of the most recent figures compiled by international organizations. These diseases were the leading cause of death between 1974 and 1976 in children < 1 yr of age in 5 countries; from 1-4 yr in 11 countries, and from 5-14 yr in 5 countries of Latin America. (Data for Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Guyana and Haiti were not available.) These diseases are not only responsible for retarded growth and development, but also cause serious malnutrition. Mortality rates in children < 1 yr of age, from 1-4 yr, and from 5-14 are presented for 19 countries of the Americas, including the USA and Canada as points of reference. The situation of diarrheal diseases in Cuba is examined and special attention is given to the reduction of 81.8% in deaths from that cause in infants < 1 yr of age and 33.4% in children between 1-4 yr old. The overall reduction for children of all ages was 79%. The question of hospital admissions to acute diarrheal disease wards is studied and the various microorganisms detected at all the microbiology laboratories in the country during the period studied are listed. Attention is given to the social, cultural, medical-care, hygienic-epidemiological and nutritional factors that contributed to reducing the incidence of these diseases in Cuba.