Abstract

RIBOTTA, Bruno S. Towards the monitoring of the social determinants of health: the scope and limitations of death statistics in Argentina ( (2001-2009). Rev. Fac. Nac. Salud Pública [online]. 2013, vol.31, suppl.1, pp.139-148. ISSN 0120-386X.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the accuracy of social stratification variables of the deceased, and the impact of personal, professional and institutional factors in the accuracy of the data, in death statistics from Argentina (2001-2009). METHODOLOGY: An exploratory-descriptive study, using the databases of the Department of Health Statistics and Information of Argentina. Descriptive statistic was used to determine the level and trend in the accuracy of a set of variables. Logistic regression was used to determine the influence of different factors on the accuracy of the information. RESULTS: Two variables had excellent accuracy, two variables had regular accuracy, and four variables had unsatisfactory accuracy. The first two groups of variables improve their situation. The third group makes it worse. The inaccuracy of most variables showed a high association with certain regions of residence, lifecycle stages, and certain types of health care and medical certification. DISCUSSION: The use of death statistics for monitoring the social determinants of health requires improving the accuracy of the variables on social stratification of the deceased. We recommend implementing awareness campaigns, improve training of doctors, upgrade quality control mechanisms and increase physical and organizational infrastructure.

Keywords : Social determinants of health; death records; data evaluation; data accuracy; factors related to data accuracy; Argentina.

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