Lp. Bustamantemontes et al., SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF PEOPL E WHO DIED FROM PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS IN THE STATE OF VERACRUZ, MEXICO, 1993, Salud publica de Mexico, 38(5), 1996, pp. 323-331
Objective. We describe the socio-demographic and medical care characte
ristics of people who died of pulmonary tuberculosis in 1993 in the st
ate of Veracruz, Mexico. Material and methods. Once selected, through
death certificate, an interview and verbal autopsy was applied to the
closest available relative. Results. A total of 300 interviews were ca
rried out. Half of the deaths were diagnosed with tuberculosis the sam
e year they died. Approximately half of the deceased withdrew from tre
atment and 40% reported abuse of alcohol consumption Patients who died
of pulmonary tuberculosis belonged to the most vulnerable social grou
ps, 35% were illiterate or had no education, and 67% lacked a regular
job. There were no differences found between those who used private me
dical services and those who used official or public services. Conclus
ions, Important findings include the high proportion of patients diagn
osed in advanced stages of the disease, alcoholism, adverse reactions
to drugs as a cause of withdrawal from treatment, and other current di
seases at the time of tuberculosis diagnosis.