Causas de mortalidad por enfermedades del aparato respiratorio en Jerez de los Caballeros (Badajoz, España) durante el siglo XIX

Abstract

Introduction: In the nineteenth century, Respiratory Diseases were one of the causes of mortality of major importance in our country. The aim of this paper is to analyze the causes of mortality these pathologies in Jerez de los Caballeros (Badajoz) during the nineteenth century. Material and Methods: We have been compiled 26,203 deaths using 18,538, which are those that recorded the cause of death. The information was processed as rated by Jacques Bertillon, in which the rules are established to resolve questions that arise when classifying incomplete, inaccurate or complex diagnoses appear two or more causes of death, very similar or very different. The information was obtained mainly from Parochial File (APJC), which brings the Books of Death of the four parishes of the town. Results: The causes of death are more numerous pneumonia with 735 deaths (36.3%) and acute and chronic bronchitis with 639 cases (31.5%). Adults are those with the largest numbers, 1,249 (61.7%) compared to infants, 776 (38.3%), males being the most affected, 1,156 (57.1%). The hardest hit among toddlers age segment is under the age of 1 year with 407 deaths (20.1%). The months that offer the highest figures are cold, highlighting December with 205 deaths (10.1%) of the total. Conclusions: Mortality from respiratory diseases, with 10.9% of total deaths, is the fourth leading cause of death in the town. This work is important for its originality and scarcity of previous studies on the examined period, especially in this geographical area.