An analysis of communicable diseases in Jamaica (abstract only)

ABSTRACT

The latest period for which detailed and final figures on causes of mortality are available is the year 1956. At this time among the 10 principal causes of death there were still 5 communicable diseases - pneumonia, gastro-enteritis, respiratory tuberculosis, malaria and syphilis. Infective and parasitic diseases accounted for 12.7 percent of total deaths but this represented a reduction of more than 50 percent over the 10 year period prior to 1956 and the specific death rates for these diseases, excepting gastro-enteritis, are declining steadily. The majority of deaths from pneumonia, gastro-enteritis, malaria and syphilis occurs in the 0-4 years age groups and the respiratory tuberculosis death rates are now highest in the older age groups. Of the other reportable diseases large increases have been noted in the number of cases of infectious hepatitis reported (AU)