Suchergebnisse

Introduction: Leprosy is an old and socially stigmatizing disease, whose mortality profile in the region of the Americas changed only since 1981 with the introduction of polychemotherapy. As part of the region, Argentina has also been part of that process, with its economic-social and political particularities. This paper analyzes the mortality caused by leprosy in Argentina in the last 35 years, and its relationship with the health context of this country. Methodology: This is a quantitative, transversal and descriptive work, with a socio-demographic perspective. Specific mortality rates are calculated by sex, age and place of residence, for Argentina between 1980 and 2014, based on official data obtained from national organizations and the Pan American Health Organization. Results: There is a decrease in leprosy mortality in the country, approximately 79% in the period studied, with variations in its intensity that are consistent with public health actions applied. This mortality is higher in men, increases from 45 years of age and the most affected provinces are those in the north of the country. Conclusions: Public health policies aimed at reducing leprosy mortality have been effective in the short term, but the lack of maintenance is causing a resurgence of this cause of death. ; Introducción: La lepra es una enfermedad milenaria y socialmente estigmatizadora, cuyo perfil de mortalidad en la región de las Américas cambió recién a partir de 1981 con la introducción de la poliquimioterapia. Como parte de la región, Argentina también ha sido parte de ese proceso, con sus particularidades económico-sociales y políticas. Este trabajo analiza la mortalidad producida por la lepra en Argentina en los últimos 35 años y su relación con el contexto sanitario de este país. Metodología: se trata de un trabajo de tipo cuantitativo, transversal y descriptivo, con perspectiva sociodemográfica. Se calculan tasas de mortalidad específicas por sexo, edad y lugar de residencia para Argentina entre 1980 y 2014, a partir de datos oficiales obtenidos de organismos nacionales y de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud. Resultados: se observa una disminución de la mortalidad por lepra en el país, de aproximadamente un 79 % en el período estudiado, con variaciones de su intensidad que concuerdan con acciones de salud pública aplicadas. Esta mortalidad es mayor en hombres, aumenta a partir de los 45 años de edad y las provincias más afectadas son las del norte del país. Conclusiones: las políticas públicas en materia de salud destinadas a la disminución de la mortalidad por lepra han sido eficaces a corto plazo, pero la falta de mantenimiento de las mismas está produciendo un resurgimiento de esta causa de muerte.

SummaryThis study aimed to evaluate educational and income inequalities in self-reported health (SRH), and physical functioning (limitations in Activities of Daily Living (ADL)/Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL)), among 60-year-old and older adults in Argentina. Using cross-sectional data from the Argentinian National Survey on Quality of Life of Older Adults 2012 (Encuesta Nacional sobre Calidad de Vida de Adultos Mayores, ENCaViAM), gender-specific socioeconomic inequalities in SRH and ADL and IADL limitations were studied in relation to educational level and householdper capitaincome. The Relative Index of Inequality (RII) – an index of the relative size of socioeconomic inequalities in health – was used. Socioeconomic inequalities in the studied health indicators were found – except for limitations in ADL among women – favouring socially advantaged groups. The results remained largely significant after full adjustment, suggesting that educational and income inequalities, mainly in SRH and IADL, were robust and somehow independent of age, marital status, physical activity, the use of several medications, depression and the occurrence of falls. The findings add to the existing knowledge on the relative size of the socioeconomic inequalities in subjective health indicators among Argentinian older adults, which are to the detriment of lower socioeconomic groups. The results could be used to inform planning interventions aimed at decreasing socioeconomic inequalities in health, to the benefit of socially disadvantaged adults.