[Sociodemographic characteristics of people who died from pulmonary tuberculosis in Veracruz, Mexico, 1993].
OBJECTIVE
We describe the socio-demographic and medical care characteristics of people who died of pulmonary tuberculosis in 1993 in the state of Veracruz, Mexico.


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 carried out. Half of the deaths were diagnosed with tuberculosis the same year they died. Approximately half of the deceased withdrew from treatment and 40% reported abuse of alcohol consumption. Patients who died of pulmonary tuberculosis belonged to the most vulnerable social groups. 35% were illiterate or had no education, and 67% lacked a regular job. There were no differences found between those who used private medical services and those who used official or public services.


CONCLUSIONS
Important findings include the high proportion of patients diagnosed in advanced stages of the disease, alcoholism, adverse reactions to drugs as a cause of withdrawal from treatment, and other current diseases at the time of tuberculosis diagnosis.
Bustamante-Montes
L P
LP
Centro de Investigación en Salud Poblacional, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, México.
Bellido-Bárcenas
F
F
Riojas-Rodríguez
H
H
Borja-Aburto
V H
VH
Yánñez-Velasco
L
L
Becerra-Posada
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology*
Características sociodemográficas de personas que murieron por tuberculosis pulmonar en Veracruz, México, 1993.