Male and female mortality rates in the city of Rio de Janeiro in 1960, 1970 and 1980 are studied with a view to analysing the different risks to which men and women are subject by age group. Mortality differentials by sex and cause were studied by means of male/female mortality ratios, relative and absolute differences among rates, and standardized rates. An analysis of differentials by selected groups of cause for 1980 was undertaken. Male mortality rates were higher than the female rates in all age groups in the three years studied, with an increase of the male/female mortality ratio for the 15-34 age group over this period. The excess of male death was mainly due to the increase of deaths from violent causes among young men, a dramatic circunstance that can hardly be changed by "technical" procedures. As regards deaths from other causes, biological determinants and the different risks for men and women should be considered in order better to understand this situation.
Differential mortality; Sex factors; Mortality rate; Risk analysis
