Characteristics of mortality among Brazilian adolescents.

In 1980 approximately 44% of the Brazilian population was between 10 and 19 years of age. The main purposes of this study are 1) to examine adolescent mortality in Brazil by age and sex and 2) to examine adolescent mortality in Brazil by cause at different ages and in both sexes. The data presented refer to the municipalities that report regularly to the Ministry of Health in which 87% of the countrys population lives and which represent 75% of the total deaths in 1980. In general the mortality rate among adolescents is low and the rate for Brazil is 73.9/100000--lower than the US rate of 75.9/100000. Mortality is always higher in the southeast region which is the most developed. A comparison of adolescent mortality by sex and age reveals that it is not only higher among males but also in the group 15 to 19 years of age; the mortality rate of male adolescents 15 to 19 years old is generally twice that for 10 to 14 year olds. The leading causes of death are accidents infectious and parasitic diseases undefined causes disease of the circulatory system neoplasms and respiratory diseases. The order of the causes varies according to age and sex. Although accidents are also the leading cause of death among adolescent females the proportion of total deaths they represent (34.1%) is much smaller than among adolescent males. To improve adolescent health it is necessary to reduce mortality rate by expanding health programs and activities aimed at this age group. These programs and activities must be multidimensional accessible and comprehensive; they must also take into account economic social environmental and cultural factors.