Patterns of childhood mortality and growth status in a rural Zapotec community. 1978

R M Malina, and J H Himes

Infant and childhood mortality (birth to 14 years), and growth status of 143 schoolchildren (5 to 14 years) are considered for a rural, Zapotec-speaking community (population, 1703) in the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico. Mortality statistics are based on civil records from 1945 to 1970. Growth status is based on weight and height for age, and weight for weight for height. In the Zapotec community, about 59% of all deaths occur in children under 15 years of age; thus, a considerable percentage of individuals die before reaching reproductive age. Children under 5 years of age, however, account for approximately 54% of all deaths, and mortality in children 1 to 4 years of age is especially high (27% of all deaths). The latter figure suggests chronic malnutrition, frequent disease and generally poor circumstances in the community. This suggestion is supported in the heights and weights of schoolchildren, survivors of the rigorous selection processes of the pre-school years. The majority of children are below the 5th centile for stature in well-nourished American children. Weight for height, however, approximates that of the USA reference data.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007223 Infant A child between 1 and 23 months of age. Infants
D007226 Infant Mortality Postnatal deaths from BIRTH to 365 days after birth in a given population. Postneonatal mortality represents deaths between 28 days and 365 days after birth (as defined by National Center for Health Statistics). Neonatal mortality represents deaths from birth to 27 days after birth. Neonatal Mortality,Mortality, Infant,Postneonatal Mortality,Infant Mortalities,Mortalities, Infant,Mortalities, Neonatal,Mortalities, Postneonatal,Mortality, Neonatal,Mortality, Postneonatal,Neonatal Mortalities,Postneonatal Mortalities
D007231 Infant, Newborn An infant during the first 28 days after birth. Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D008297 Male Males
D008800 Mexico A country in NORTH AMERICA, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, between BELIZE and the UNITED STATES, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and the UNITED STATES.
D009026 Mortality All deaths reported in a given population. CFR Case Fatality Rate,Crude Death Rate,Crude Mortality Rate,Death Rate,Age Specific Death Rate,Age-Specific Death Rate,Case Fatality Rate,Decline, Mortality,Determinants, Mortality,Differential Mortality,Excess Mortality,Mortality Decline,Mortality Determinants,Mortality Rate,Mortality, Differential,Mortality, Excess,Age-Specific Death Rates,Case Fatality Rates,Crude Death Rates,Crude Mortality Rates,Death Rate, Age-Specific,Death Rate, Crude,Death Rates,Determinant, Mortality,Differential Mortalities,Excess Mortalities,Mortalities,Mortality Declines,Mortality Determinant,Mortality Rate, Crude,Mortality Rates,Rate, Age-Specific Death,Rate, Case Fatality,Rate, Crude Death,Rate, Crude Mortality,Rate, Death,Rate, Mortality,Rates, Case Fatality
D001827 Body Height The distance from the sole to the crown of the head with body standing on a flat surface and fully extended. Body Heights,Height, Body,Heights, Body
D001835 Body Weight The mass or quantity of heaviness of an individual. It is expressed by units of pounds or kilograms. Body Weights,Weight, Body,Weights, Body
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children

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