Citation

Alvarez JA, Aburto JM, Canudas-Romo V. Popul. Stud. (TFG) 2020; 74(1): 75-92.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Population Investigation Committee, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/00324728.2019.1614651

PMID

31179848

Abstract

It is uncertain whether Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) countries are approaching a single mortality regime. Over the last three decades, LAC has experienced major public health interventions and the highest number of homicides in the world. However, these interventions and homicide rates are not evenly shared across countries. This study documents trends in life expectancy and lifespan variability for 20 LAC countries, 2000-14. By extending a previous method, we decompose differences in lifespan variability between LAC and a developed world benchmark into cause-specific effects. For both sexes, dispersion of amenable diseases through the age span makes the largest contribution to the gap between LAC and the benchmark. Additionally, for males, the concentration of homicides, accidents, and suicides in mid-life further impedes mortality convergence. Great disparity exists in the region: while some countries are rapidly approaching the developed regime, others remain far behind and suffer a clear disadvantage in population health.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Accidents; Child; Adult; Child, Preschool; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Aged; Female; Male; Middle Aged; Socioeconomic Factors; Life Expectancy; Homicide; Adolescent; Cause of Death; Suicide; Mortality; Young Adult; Child Mortality; Developing Countries; Sex Distribution; Aged, 80 and over; Latin America; life expectancy; Infant Mortality; Longevity; Caribbean Region; amenable mortality; external mortality; Latin America and the Caribbean; lifespan variability; standard deviation decomposition