About the Basic Indicators 1995-1998

The collection and analysis of information related to health conditions, are essential for programming activities in the health sector of the countries. The Pan American Health Organization collaborates with the Member Countries to strengthen their Health Information Systems and to disseminate the resulting information as part of its constitutional responsibilities.

This document contributes to knowledge of the health and wellbeing of the peoples of the Americas. It should stimumlate use of the information as a powerful instrument of change.

The information contained in this document is based on a selection of data from the "Basic Indicators of the Health Situation in the Americas, 1998" document, published for the first time in 1995, gives information with respect to various important public health events in the Region.

The collection of nearly 40 indicators has been classified into four categories: demographic, socioeconomic, mortality and morbidity and resources, access and coverage of health services, of the countries and territories of the Region. An important criteria for the selection of the indicators was the availability of information from the majority of the countries of the Region of the Americas. To limit the effect of comparing different populations, the average values of the regional indicators have been weighted, when required, by population size.

The Special Program for Health Analysis (SHA), is responsible for the preparation of this brochure. Information was provided by other technical programs of the Organization, the PAHO Country Representatives, as well as other international agencies.

For more ifnormation, contact:
Special Program for Health Analysis,
Pan American Health Organization
525 Twenty-third Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20037
e-mail: SHA@PAHO.ORG

Data sources

The materials presented in the Basic Indicators were prepared by the Special Program for Health Analysis of PAHO, using the following sources:

1. Pan American Health Organization. Health Conditions in the Americas, 1977-1980, 1981-1984, 1990, and 1994, Editions and Health in the Americas 1998 Edition. Washington, DC: PAHO; (PAHO Scientific Publications No. 427, 500, 524, 549, and 569, respectively).

2. Pan American Health Organization. Health Statistics in the Americas, 1991, 1992 and 1995 Editions. Washington, DC: OPS; (Scientific Publications No. 537, 542 and 556, respectively).

3. Pan American Health Organization. Health for All and Primary Health Care. Report of the Strategy Monitoring, 1994, 1998; Mid-decade Evalution of Water Supply and Sanitation in Latin America and the Caribbean, 1997. Washington, DC: OPS; 1994. (CSP24/21).

4.Technical Reports from PAHO/WHO Country Representatives in the Americas and Regional Programs. 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998.

5. United Nations.World Population Prospects: The 1994 and 1996 Revisions; World Urbanization Prospects: the 1996 Revision. New York: UN; 1994, 1996. (Población total, tasa cruda de natalidad, tasa cruda de mortalidad, promedio anual de crecimiento poblacional, tasa global de fecundidad, porcentaje de población urbana, razón de dependencia, expectativa de vida al nacer).

6. World Health Organization. Demographic Data for Health Situation Assessment and Projections - 1998. Geneva, 1998 (porcentaje de población urbana).

7. Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. Social Panorama in Latin America:1994, Preliminary Overview of the Economy of Latin America and the Caribbean and Statistical Yearbook for the Latin America and the Caribbean, 1995. Santiago, Chile: ECLAC; 1994, 1995. (Tasas de crecimiento anual del PIB, porcentaje de población en pobreza, razón de ingreso 20% más alto/ 20% más bajo).

7. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. World Education Report, 1993. Paris: UNESCO. 1993. (Tasa de alfabetismo).

8. The World Bank. Social Indicators of Development and the 1998 World Development Indicators. Washington, DC: World Bank, 1996, 1998. (PNB per cápita. (PPP) US$).

9. U.S. Bureau of Census, Departament of Commerce. World Population Profile, 1994; International Data Base, 1994. Washington, DC. Bureau of the Census; 1994. (Contraceptive use, population for countries with populations under 150,000 inhabitants).

10. United Nations Children's Fund. The State of the World's Children 1995. New York: UNICEF. 1995. (Porcentaje de uso de métodos anticonceptivos en mujeres, todos los métodos, cerca de 1990). PAHO/HDP/HDA/95.03