INFANT MORBIMORTALITY DUE TO ACUTE DIARRH EA IN A METROPOLITAN-AREA OF NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL

Six cross-sectional studies involving children under five years of age in three places on S. Luiz island, i.e., Vila Palmeira, Anjo da Guard a and S. Jose de Ribamar, were performed. A standardized questionnaire on the presence of diarrhoea in the previous 2 weeks was answered by the mothers or by those responsible for the children. Two population b ased studies (in May 1986 and May 1989) and four sample based surveys (in November of 1986, 1987 and 1988 and in May 1989) were carried out. The prevalence of diarrhoea was highest in May, 1986 and November, 19 87. The highest prevalence occurred in S. Jose de Ribamar. The distrib ution of cases according to age: showed a higher prevalence among chil dren of 6-11 months and between 1 and 2 years of age. The prevalence o f diarrhoea was highest among the families: that excreted directly int o the sea or a latreen; that used water from uncovered wells; that thr ew their garbage into the sea; and whose bread-winners were unemployed . Diarrhoea was the principal cause of death in both surveys. Infant m ortality, in May 1986, was 44.0 per thousand in children under 1 year of age and 12.8 in children under 5 years old; in May 1989 it was 7.9 per thousand and 4.9 per thousand respectively. The decrease in child morbidity and mortality due to diarrhoea between 1986 and 1989 was sta tistically significant.