Child development, physiological stress and survival expectancy in prehistoric fisher-hunter-gatherers from the Jabuticabeira II shell mound, South Coast of Brazil.

In this study, we shed light on the interdependency of child growth, morbidity and life expectancy in the fisher-hunter-gatherers of the Jabuticabeira II shell mound (1214-830 cal B.C.E. - 118-413 cal C.E.) located at the South Coast of Brazil. We test the underlying causes of heterogeneity in frailty and selective mortality in a population that inhabits a plentiful environment in sedentary settlements. We reconstruct osteobiographies of 41 individuals (23 adults and 18 subadults) using 8 variables, including age-at-death, stature, non-specific stress markers (cribra orbitalia, porotic hyperostosis, periosteal reactions, periapical lesions and linear enamel hypoplasia), as well as weaning patterns based on stable isotope data to examine how stress factors module growth and survival. Our results show that shorter adult statures were linked to higher morbidity around weaning age and higher chances of dying earlier (before 35 years) than taller adult statures. In addition, short juvenile stature was related to physiological stressors and mortality. The adult "survivors" experienced recurrent periods of morbidity during childhood and adulthood, possibly associated with the high parasite load of the ecosystem and dense settlement rather than to malnourishment. An association between early-stress exposure and premature death was not demonstrated in our sample. To explain our data, we propose a new model called "intermittent stress of low lethality". According to this model, individuals are exposed to recurrent stress during the juvenile and adult stages of life, and, nevertheless survive until reproductive age or later with relative success.

Impacto de factores socioeconómicos en la mortalidad por suicidios en Colombia, 2000-2013 / Impact of Socioeconomic Factors on Suicide Mortality in Colombia, 2000-2013 / Impacto de fatores socioeconómicos na mortalidade por suicídios na Colômbia, 2000-2013

Resumen El objetivo fue analizar la tendencia, el impacto y los factores socioeconómicos asociados con la mortalidad por suicidios en Colombia entre el 2000 y el 2013, por sexo, grupos de edad y estratos del índice de necesidades básicas insatisfechas (INB). Se calcularon tasas estandarizadas de mortalidad, años de vida perdidos (AVP) y un análisis de regresión múltiple binomial negativa. La mortalidad por suicidios disminuyó en Colombia entre el 2000 y el 2013. El estrato medio INB tuvo la mayor mortalidad por suicidios; el estrato muy bajo presentó la mayor disminución; y el estrato muy alto tuvo la menor mortalidad. La desigualdad del ingreso se asoció positivamente con el riesgo de fallecer por suicidio, al igual que la tasa de desempleo y la pobreza tienen una relación negativa con la mortalidad de suicidios. Además de los factores de riesgo individuales del suicidio, las condiciones socioeconómicas del entorno deben ser considerados factores de riesgo de suicidio en Colombia.

Abstract This aarticle analyzes the trend, the impact, and the socioeconomic factors associated with suicide mortality in Colombia between 2000 and 2013, according to gender, age groups, and strata of the unsatisfied basic needs index (AVP). We calculated the standardized mortality, lost years of life (AVP), and carried out a negative binomial multiple regression analysis. Mortality from suicides decreased in Colombia between 2000 and 2013. The middle-income stratum INB had the highest mortality from suicides; the very low income stratum showed the greatest decrease; and the very high income stratum had the lowest mortality. Income inequality was positively associated with the risk of dying from suicide, just as the unemployment rate and poverty are negatively related to suicide mortality. In addition to individual risk factors for suicide, socioeconomic conditions in the environment should be considered risk factors for suicide in Colombia.

Resumo O objetivo foi analisar a tendência, o impacto e os fatores socioeconómicos associados a mortalidade por suicídio na Colômbia entre 2000 e 2013, por sexo, camadas de idade e nível de rendas do índice de necessidades básicas insatisfeitas (INB). Calcularam-se taxas padronizadas de mortalidade, anos de vida perdidos (AVP) e análise de regressão múltipla binomial negativa. A mortalidade por suicídio diminuiu na Colômbia entre 2000 e 2013. O nível meio de rendas INB teve a maior mortalidade por suicídio; o nível de rendas muito baixas apresentou a maior diminuição; e o nível de muito altas rendas teve a menor mortalidade. A desigualdade do ingresso foi associada positivamente com o risco de falecer por suicídio, igual que a taxa de desemprego e a pobreza têm relação negativa com a mortalidade de suicídios. Além dos fatores de risco individuais do suicídio, as condições socioeconómicas do entorno devem se considerar fatores de risco de suicídio na Colômbia.

Estimativas de mortalidade para o Rio Grande do Norte em um contexto de pré-transição demográfica / Mortality estimations for Rio Grande do Norte in a context of demographic pre-transition

Para períodos anteriores ao início da transição demográfica há poucos trabalhos quantitativos sobre o impacto da mortalidade na população. Com base nessa lacuna, o presente artigo estimou indicadores de mortalidade para o Rio Grande do Norte no contexto de pré-transição demográfica, utilizando dados do século XIX provenientes de mapas estatísticos de população (1801 e 1805) e de recenseamentos (1872 e 1890). Para lidar com as informações de população e óbito, empregou-se método de Growth Balance de Brass (1975), tabelas de vida de Coale e Demeny (1996), funções extraídas do The Human Mortality Database e técnica de padronização indireta. Como resultados, verificou-se que a mortalidade no Rio Grande do Norte se mostrou mais intensa na população infantil e naquela acima de 50 anos, que representam os segmentos mais vulneráveis às condições adversas como as secas e as doenças infecciosas. Obteve-se também uma expectativa de vida ao nascer de 32,6 anos, valor muito próximo às estimativas de Mortara (1941) para o Brasil entre 1870 e 1890. Sugerem-se novos estudos para o período de pré-transição demográfica e maior utilização de técnicas quantitativas em análises voltadas para o passado brasileiro.

For periods prior to the beginning of the demographic transition, there are few quantitative studies about the impact of mortality on the population. Based on this absence, this article estimates mortality indicators for Rio Grande do Norte in the context of demographic pre-transition, using nineteenth-century data from statistical population maps (1801 and 1805) and census (1872 and 1890). In order to deal with population and death data, Brass's Growth Balance method (1975) was used, as well as Coale and Demeny's life tables (1996), functions extracted from The Human Mortality Database and indirect standardization technique. As a result, it was verified that mortality in Rio Grande do Norte was more intense in child and elderly population, over 50 years old, which represent the most vulnerable populations to adverse conditions such as droughts and infectious diseases. Life expectancy at birth is observed at 32.6 years old, a value very close to Mortara's (1941) estimates for Brazil between 1870 and 1890. Further studies are suggested for the demographic and major pre-transition period as well as the use of demographic techniques in studies focused on the Brazilian past.

Para los períodos anteriores al comienzo de la transición demográfica hay pocos estudios cuantitativos sobre el impacto de la mortalidad en la población. Sobre la base de esta brecha, este artículo estimó indicadores de mortalidad para Rio Grande do Norte, en el contexto previo a la transición demográfica, a partir de datos del siglo XIX: informes estadísticos de población (1801 y 1805) y censos (1872 y 1890). Para hacer frente a la información sobre población y muerte se utilizaron el método de Growth Balance de Brass (1975) y las tablas de vida de Coale Demeny (1996), se extrajeron funciones de The Human Mortality Database y técnicas de estandarización indirecta. Como resultado, se verificó que la mortalidad en Rio Grande do Norte fue más intensa en niños y personas mayores de 50 años, que representan a los más vulnerables frente las condiciones adversas como la sequía y las enfermedades infecciosas. También se obtuvo una esperanza de vida al nacer de 32,6 años, valor muy próximo a las estimaciones de Mortara (1941) para Brasil entre 1870 y 1890. Se sugieren más estudios para la pretransición demográfica y mayor utilización de técnicas cuantitativas en los estudios del pasado brasileño.

The Effect of Changes in Educational Composition on Adult Female Mortality in Brazil.

The last century in Brazil was witness to profound changes. Female life expectancy at birth increased from 34.6 years in 1910 to 77.26 years in 2010. At the same time, the educational composition of the population has changed dramatically. In the 1940s, only 25% of the children aged 5-14 years old were enrolled in school. Currently, nearly all children attend school. We examine the extent to which changes in the age-specific distribution of education have contributed to the decline in adult mortality among women in Brazil. Our analysis follows other applications in the literature to measure the mortality reduction that would occur if exposure to specific risk factors was changed at the counterfactual level. The effects are not trivial: Between 1960 and 2010, about 38% of the increase in life expectancy at age 30 can be attributed to changes in the educational composition of women. An additional 22% increase is expected until 2040.

Maya paleodemographics: what do we know?

OBJECTIVES: We present a review of what is known about the population dynamics from Classic and Post-Classic Maya settlements in coastal areas of the Yucatan Peninsula such as Jaina, Chac Mool, El Meco and Xcambó and two other urban centers, Palenque and Copan. METHODS: This contribution discusses the available data on mortality, survival, life expectancy, fertility and migration, obtained by paleodemographic methodology. Data for Xcambó and El Meco were obtained from Tiesler Bloss et al., (2005) and Ortega (2007); information from other sites was obtained from previous work conducted by the authors. RESULTS: This review proposes that the demographic dynamics of the Classical period are typical of densely populated and developing areas with overall average birth rates of six children per woman and a life expectancy at birth of between 20 and 42.2 years, which is equivalent to birth rates above 40 per thousand inhabitants. Post-Classic settlements show evidence of great population mobility with unfavorable changes in living conditions that lead us to think of fertility decrease and low life expectancies at birth. CONCLUSIONS: There are indications of a demographic change between the Late-Terminal Classic and Post-Classic periods. Life expectancies are lower than 30 years, a high infant mortality and low adult survival after 50 years is shown. The Post-Classic period is characterized by population rearrangements and mobility. Results obtained for both Chac Mool series showed deterioration in health and reduced life expectancy and fertility levels from one period to another. El Meco and Xcambó series showed differences with Chac Mool's due to higher growth rates.

Years of Life Lost (YLL) in Colombia 1998-2011: Overall and Avoidable Causes of Death Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Estimate the Years of Life Lost (YLL) for overall and avoidable causes of death (CoD) in Colombia for the period 1998-2011. METHODS: From the reported deaths to the Colombian mortality database during 1998-2011, we classified deaths from avoidable causes. With the reference life table of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2010 study, we estimated the overall YLL and YLL due to avoidable causes. Calculations were performed with the difference between life expectancy and the age of death. Results are reported by group of cause of death, events, sex, year and department. Comparative analysis between number of deaths and YLL was carried out. RESULTS: A total of 83,856,080 YLL were calculated in Colombia during period 1998-2011, 75.9% of them due to avoidable CoD. The year 2000 reported the highest number of missed YLL by both overall and avoidable CoD. The departments with the highest YLL rates were Caquetá, Guaviare, Arauca, Meta, and Risaralda. In men, intentional injuries and cardiovascular and circulatory diseases had the higher losses, while in women YLL were mainly due to cardiovascular and circulatory diseases. CONCLUSIONS: The public health priorities should focus on preventing the loss of YLL due to premature death and differentiated interventions by sex.

The color of child mortality in Brazil, 1950-2000: social progress and persistent racial inequality.

Now that racism has been officially recognized in Brazil, and some universities have adopted affirmative-action admission policies, measures of the magnitude of racial inequality and analyses that identify the factors associated with changes in racial disparities over time assume particular relevance to the conduct of public debate. This study uses census data from 1950 to 2000 to estimate the probability of death in the early years of life, a robust indicator of the standard of living among the white and Afro-Brazilian populations. Associated estimates of the average number of years of life expectancy at birth show that the 6.6-year advantage that the white population enjoyed in the 1950s remained virtually unchanged throughout the second half of the twentieth century, despite the significant improvements that accrued to both racial groups. The application of multivariate techniques to samples selected from the 1960, 1980, and 2000 census enumerations further shows that, controlling for key determinants of child survival, the white mortality advantage persisted and even increased somewhat in 2000. The article discusses evidence of continued racial inequality during an era of deep transformation in social structure, with reference to the challenges of skin color classification in a multiracial society and the evolution of debates about color, class, and discrimination in Brazil.