Kenneth Harrison Uttley (1901-1972). Historian to the diseases of Antigua, British West Indies

Dr. Kenneth Uttley (1901-1972) served as Chief Medical Officer in Antigua, British West Indies, from 1955 until 1966. During this time, Dr. Uttley personally reviewed and tabulated an island-wide governmental demographic database of all births, deaths and causes of death during the preceeding 100 years. This database was the result of a Compulsory Birth and Death Registration Ordinance enacted as one of several Colonial Poor Laws in 1856. His efforts resulted in the publication of a total of 30 papers in American and British medical journals. Many of these papers reviewed historical demographic trends in births, fertility rates, neonatal deaths, infant mortality and early childhood mortality rates. Others focused on the historical epidemiology of specific diseases such as neonatal tetanus, leprosy, tuberculosis and malaria. This is the first complete bibliographical account of Uttley's contributions to the history of diseases in the West Indies in general and Antigua in particular. Dr. Uttley also served as an ordained priest in the Anglican Church and, upon retirement from the Colonial Medical Services, returned to England to serve as the Vicar of Purton, Oxfordshire. (AU)

Health statistics from the Americas

Health Statistics from the Americas, 1998 Edition, is the fourth in a series begun in 1991 to complement the quadrennial publication Health in the Americas. Initially conceived as a yearbook, this publication is now produced every two years. This edition is the first to include a section devoted to a special topic-health during early childhood-which comprises Part I of this book and represents the collaborative efforts of several programs, specialized centers, and divisions of the Pan American Health Organization. As did previous editions, this volume also presents, in Part III, summarized mortality data by age group and sex for all country-years received after publication of the 1995 edition, using the 6/61 list of cause groups. It also serves to re-emphasize the importance of addressing deficiencies in data coverage and quality, so as to attain greater reliability and enhance the usefullness of mortality information (Preface)

Registration of births, stillbirths and infant deaths in Jamaica

BACKGROUND: Vital statistics underestimate the prevalence of perinatal and infant deaths. This is particularly significant when these parameters affect eligibility for international assistance for newly merging nations. OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of registration of livebirths, stillbirths and infant deaths in Jamaica. METHODOLOGY: Births, stillbirths and neonatal deaths identified during a cross-sectional study (1986): and infant death identified in six parishes (1993) were matched to vital registration documents filed with the Registrar General. RESULTS: While 94 percent of livebirths were registered by one year of age (1986), only 13 percent of stillbirths (1986) and 25 percent of infant deaths (1993) were registered. Post neonatal deaths were more likely to be registered than early neonatal deaths. Frequently the birth was not registered when the infant died. Birth registration rates were highest in parishes with high rates of hospital deliveries (rs=0.97, P<0.001) where institutions notify the registrar of each birth. Hospital deaths, however, were less likely to be registered than community deaths as registrars are not automatically notified of these deaths. CONCLUSIONS: To improve vital registration, institutions should become registration centres for all vital events occurring there (births, stillbirths, deaths). Recommendations aimed at modernizing the vital registration system in Jamaica and other developing countries are also made(AU)

One year of perinatal registration in Curacao - abstract

Perinatal care in Curacao has been a cause for concern because of parameters that show poor outcome and the lack of an adequate, uniform and flexible registration system. In addressing this problem, the government chose a system that could deliver up-to-date information, make continuous evaluation possible and be an instrument in ensuring delivery of a minimum of antenatal care. After a try-out period, the Sistema Informatico Perinatal (SIP) of the Centro Latino Americano de Perinatologia y Desarollo Humano (CLAP) was introduced on October 1, 1993, among all practising midwives. This study analyses data compiled during the first year. Most striking results: low rate of missing information; high rate of teenage pregnancy; high rate of expecting mothers who made their first antenatal visit in their third trimester of pregnancy. Most frequent maternal pathologies: threat of premature labour, urinary tract infections, puerperal bleeding, premature rupture of membranes and pre-eclampsia. Most frequent new-born pathologies: hyper-bilirubinaemia, infections and RDS. We conclude that the CLAP system has the potential to provide timely information on antenatal and maternal data important for proving optimal care during pregnancy (AU)

Health statistics from the Americas: mortality trends from 1960 to 1990 and latest data by cause, age and sex: morbidity annual series of reported cases of selected communicable diseases

Health Statistics from the Americas, 1992 edition, is the second in a series of yearbooks that the Pan American Sanitary Bureau launched as part of its strategy to disseminate information about the health situation in the countries of the region of the AMericas. These yearbooks provide background data and complement the quadrennial publication, Health Conditions in the Americas. This publication primarily presents estimated cause-group specific death rates for 24 countries, by age group and sex, but not by cause group, also are provided for another two countries (Director-PAHO).

Belize family health survey, 1991

Examines fertility, child morbidity and mortality, contraceptive behavior, use of health services, and knowledge of AIDS in Belize. Considers fertility, attitudes towards childbearing; knowledge, use, and source of contraception; the percentage of women in need of contraception; use of and potential demand for surgical contraception; use of maternal and child health services; breastfeeding and weaning practices; immunization levels; child morbidity and mortality; and knowledge of AIDS within the population. The survey was conducted by interviewing 2,656 women in the 15-44 years age range. (AU)

Health statistics from the Americas: mortality since 1960

These yearbooks will provide background data and complement the quadrennial publication Health Conditions in the Americas, a report that was begun in 1954 and issued in its 10th edition in 1990. It is hoped that the data presented here will both provide information for consultation and reference and stimulate more numerous and more in-depth analyses of the changing mortality profiles in the countries and the trends in major public health problems in the region. Although some of these data are incomplete or of uncertain quality, we are convinced that their judicious use will demonstrate their utility, and will in turn provide the best incentive for generating increasingly pertinent, valid, and timely information (Director-PAHO)

Highlights from the survey of living conditions

Survey data graphically presented by charts; covers poverty, composition of student body by school track and income; quality measures by school track, use of public health care by ill or injured children up to 4 years, payment for curative health care for children up to 4 years, receipt of food stamps and school lunches among households with malnurished children; vaccination coverage by food stamp receipt and nutrition level; and the assessment of Hurricane Gilbert's impact on housing(AU)

An assessment of the extent of registration of stillbirths and neonatal deaths in Jamaica

A study was done between February and May, 1988 to determine the completeness of registration of stillbirths and neonatal deaths in Jamaica. Registrations were matched with data on events identified in the Jamaica Perinatal Mortality and Morbidity Study, 1986-1987. The results indicated very low levels of registration - 6 percent of stillbirths and 11 percent of neonatal deaths. This was the trend irrespective of where the event took place or who was in attendance at the birth. However, there was a significantly higher level of registration of stillbirths that occurred in private hospitals (5 percent). Neonatal deaths which occurred at home were more likely to be registered (22 percent) than those in hospital (12 percent). The low level of registration is attributable mainly to insufficient knowledge on the part of the public as well as health workers of the importance of vital statistics and registration. A public education programme and training for health workers and registrars were recommended as actions likely to bring about significant improvements in the vital registration system. (AU)

Problem solving at the record office: Victoria Jubilee Hospital

Identifies the following problems which the Victoria Jubilee Hospital faces in compiling an accurate medical record system: 1) change of names given at birth, or honest mistakes made about their names; 2) registration under maiden name or former married name after remmarriage; 3) second registration of child under name of different fathers after claiming loss of registration slip; 4) registration under name of different person. Discusses attempts by the hospital to solve the problem through tighter security of records, retention of records for at least ten years and requesting proof of baptismal and school records from registered mothers. (AU)

The health data base: Grenada

Presents an analysis of the data collection and analysis methodology for the Ministry of Health and makes recommendations for improvement. The areas examined are population and vital statistics : births, death, immigration, health statistics for communicable diseases, hospital and visiting station records

Doodsoorzaken in Suriname 1976-1981 / Causes of death in Suriname 1976-1981

This book reviews the causes of death in Suriname in the period 1976-1981. The c-form (notification of causes of death) of the death certificate is the basis of this study. Quantitative information on mortality is one of the most important means to identify health problems and to locate and compare them, in partial population groups as well as internationally. Without this information it is not possible to state priorities for an effective health care policy. First, the causes of death are presented in 17 classes, after which a specific analysis of these data follows. Comparisons are also made by sex, age, ethnic group, residential district and year of death, but also with other countries. Furthermore, information is given on health indicators provided by the mortality data

Gezondheidsleer voor Suriname dl.IV: Gezondheidsstatistiek / Health education for Suriname pt.4: Health statistics

Discusses various health statistics, namely: size and composition of the population, age structure of the population, average age of the population, age groups, absolute, gross and net figure, marriage, birth, different death-rates, average duration of life, illness, accident, disability figures, incidence and prevalence. Also gives the endemic index, anatomic and physiological indices, hospital figures, other health facilities and the epidemiological fraction. The international nomenclature is also presented