Decline in infant mortality (from 1 to 4 years old) in Villa de Siles (Jaen), 1900-1959

• Main Author: Ramón Beteta Avio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Instituto Interuniversitario de Geografía (Universidad de Alicante) 2019-12-01
• Series: Investigaciones Geográficas
• Subjects: mortalidad de párvulos; tasas especificas; causas de muerte; estacionalidad; siles; jaén; españa.
• Online Access: https://www.investigacionesgeograficas.com/article/view/2019-n72-descenso-de-la-mortalidad-parvular-1-a-4-anos-en-la-villa-de-siles-jaen-1900-1959

The frequencies, rates, ages, gender, cause of death, and seasonality of infant mortality (from 1 to 4 years old) in a rural population (with an average of 4278 inhabitants between 1900 and 1959) in the depressed Sierra de Segura area are analysed during a period of time in which infant mortality greatly decreased. The records of deaths and baptised infants from the only parish in the village, together with the data collected from the civil registry, have been digitally photographed and computerised. In total, there are 5,139 cards for recorded deaths of all ages (of which 1,190 are children and 1,048 from 1 to 4 years of age), as well as 8,762 birth cards with valuable demographic data. Frequencies decrease by 94.1%, and rates by 96.3% in the period. The age with the highest mortality is one year old, accounting for 51.8% of deaths. An excess male mortality of 110 per 100 females is registered. Deaths from infectious diseases account for 81.5%. The highest infant death rates are recorded in the summer months, while the lowest rate is registered in April. The process of modernisation with numerous socio-cultural, economic, and medical transformations reduced the risk of dying in infancy and lengthened life expectancy.