Inequities in Mental Health in Chile, 1997-2001

Abstract

The differences in mortality from two important mental health problems among the 28 Health Services territories of Chile are described. The mortality rates utilized are based on Civil Registry data for the five years 1997-2001. The differences are large for both causes of death, but more so in the case of alcoholic disease of the liver. The degrees of inequity are quantified through the use of several appropriate coefficients. No correlation was found between the rates of the two diseases. Initial explanations for the inequities are sought. For both problems there are peculiar geographical distributions. In the case of suicide, there is a close correlation with poverty.