PREFACE
Health Statistics from the Americas, 2006 Edition is the sixth in a series begun
in 1991 to complement the quadrennial publication Health in the Americas. This is the
second edition to be produced only in an electronic format, and includes a special topic
on the ten leading causes of death in 31countries of the Americas.
The 2006 edition contains mortality data for all country-years received after
publication of the 2003 Edition of this series. This volume presents a large number of
country-years of available data –155 data years from 42 countries. It includes 45
country-years of mortality data coded with the Ninth Revision (ICD-9) and 110
Country-years with the Tenth Revision (ICD-10). These data are presented for cause
groups according to the PAHO 6/61 List for tabulation of ICD-9 and the PAHO 6/67
List for tabulation of ICD-10 coded mortality.
As countries strive to meet the growing demands for good data to monitor
progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), mortality data have
become a key component with two MDGs expressing targets in terms of mortality.
The publication serves to display the extensive availability of detailed mortality
data in countries of the Americas. It also highlights the importance of addressing
deficiencies in data coverage and quality in order to improve the reliability and
usefulness of registered mortality information. Despite improvements over the years,
much more needs to be done to strengthen the civil registration and vital statistics
systems in countries where they are deficient.
The Pan American Health Organization gratefully acknowledges the continued
cooperation and support of its Member States in providing this information for
dissemination. I am confident that this information can contribute toward health
situation analyses used by policymakers to make decisions that improve the health of
the populations of the Americas.
Mirta Roses Periago
Director |
