OBJECTIVE: To analyze mortality by cause and sex among groups of race or color from the mortality information system (MIS) in Vitória (Brazil), in the period from 2003 to 2006. METHODS: We calculated and analyzed the mortality rates according to underlying cause, sex and race/color, and the mean and median age of death by underlying cause, sex and race. We calculated the relative risk (RR) for age, sex and underlying cause (p<0.05 and CI 95%). RESULTS: The completeness of race/color in SIM ranged from 1% in 1996 to 81% in 2006. There was a greater RR of death among blacks for mental and behavioral disorders (RR=9.29), Ill-defined causes (RR=8.71), and external causes (RR=5.71). For black women, we highlight the external causes (RR=2.38). We found a variation of up to 33 years (nervous system) between whites and blacks. CONCLUSION: This study confirms the existence of unequal racial/ethnic mortality, highlighting the mortality from mental disorders and external causes, in addition to early mortality that occurs in the black population.
health inequalities; information systems; mortality registries; race or ethnic group distribution; underlying cause of death; mortality rate
