Evolution of natality and neonatal and perinatal mortality in the Health Area El Bierzo: 1992-2004

Abstract

The study of the basic demographic indicators of a population, is essential both for an understanding of its evolution and to establish demographic forecasts. Both aspects allow us to make realistic health plans. Objetive: Our presentation is a study of the evolution of neonatal and perinatal birth and death rates in the health region of Bierzo, in León province between 1992 and 2004. Patients and methods: We have calculated birthrates, incidents of premature births and underweight newborn babies, as well as death rates from statistics obtained from El Bierzo Hospital and the Ponferrada Health Clinic (hospitals that deal with the births in the Bierzo health region). We can compare our birthrate results to the same indicators for birthrates in the province of León, in the Autonomous Community of Castilla and León, and in Spain, obtained from information of the National Institute of Statistics. Results and conclusions: We have observed a steady decrease in the birthrate for Bierzo, with the lowest figures in 2001, and a small but continuous increase from then until 2004. The birthrates found were less than the Provincial, Autonomous and National ones. The frequency of premature and underweight births experienced an increase parallel to the national and autonomous tendencies except for the group of very immature births. The neonatal and perinatal death rates have maintained an imortant downwards tendency.