This study presents an analysis of the index of proportional mortality by age and causes of death for the Brazilian population in 1980. The study points out the poor-quality of the data, mainly in the North, Northeast and Middle-west regions and the Brazilian's low level of health: with proportional mortality under one year of age at 24.2% and proportional mortality over 50 years old at 48.9%, Nelson de Moraes' type III and Guedes' index at 8.0. The level of health in Brazil varies greatly from region to region. Dwellers in capital cities have a health index similar to that of the population of their respective state. In 1980 the proportional mortality for diseases of the circulatory system was 32.1%, for infectous and parasitic diseases 11.8%, for neoplasms 10.4% and for accidents, poisoning and injuries 11.8%. The index for North and Northeast regions indicate a worsening of conditions of health as compared with previous periods.
Mortality; Health indicators