RESUMEN
This paper examines the maternal mortality and the age-specific mortality rates for the under 25 year olds in six border regions on the U.S. side of the U.S.-Mexico border and compares them with those of adjoining regions in Mexico. On the U.S. side of the border, the improvement in the general mortality status of maternal and child health from 1970 to 1980 was equal to or better than that of the nation as a whole. Despite this improvement, in 1980 five of the six border regions showed higher mortality rates due to external causes for the 1-4 age-group. On the Mexican side, maternal and child mortality was lower in the border region than in other parts of Mexico but much higher than in the United States. The 1-4 year olds in Mexico had the highest mortality rates among the three age-groups over 1 year of age.
Asunto(s)
Mortalidad , Factores de Edad , Arizona , California , Niño , Preescolar , Femenino , Humanos , Lactante , Mortalidad Infantil , Recién Nacido , Masculino , Mortalidad Materna , México , New Mexico , Embarazo , TexasRESUMEN
The pattern, extent and patient care implications of medical folk belief in the Mexican-American population utilizing a pediatric emergency room were assessed. The parents of caretakers of 85 randomly selected patients were interviewed in the emergency room waiting area. The extent of knowledge and family history of four traditional folk diseases (magical fright, evil eye, surfeit, and fallen fontanelle) were determined, as was the utitlization of folk healers. The proportion of individuals with traditional knowledge varied with the specific folk disease and with demographic characteristics. Those born in Mexico were more likely to have knowledge of folk disease symptoms and treatment. Of 43 patients who had received treatment prior to coming to the emergency room, 13 had received an herbal folk remedy prescribed by a family member. Twenty-eight reported previous use of folk healers for pediatric illness although none had sought such care for the present illness. Of 57 informants who offered a cause for the child's present illness, two named a folk disease. Mexican-American folk belief is common in the population of Hispanic origin who utilize this pediatric emergency room. The illness for which care is sought, however, is felt to be amenable to scientific care and therfore medical folk belief is not often a clinically relevant factor in the emergency room setting.