Epidemiological characteristics of cases of death from tuberculosis and vulnerable territories.
OBJECTIVE
to characterize the differences in the clinical and epidemiological profile of cases of death that had tuberculosis as an immediate or associated cause, and to analyze the spatial distribution of the cases of death from tuberculosis within the territories of Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.


METHODS
an ecological study, in which the population consisted of 114 cases of death from tuberculosis. Bivariate analysis was carried out, as well as point density analysis, defined with the Kernel estimate.


RESULTS
of the cases of death from tuberculosis, 50 were the immediate cause and 64 an associated cause. Age (p=.008) and sector responsible for the death certificate (p=.003) were the variables that presented statistically significant associations with the cause of death. The spatial distribution, in both events, did not occur randomly, forming clusters in areas of the municipality.


CONCLUSIONS
the difference in the profiles of the cases of death from tuberculosis, as a basic cause and as an associated cause, was governed by the age and the sector responsible for the completion of the death certificate. The non-randomness of the spatial distribution of the cases suggests areas that are vulnerable to these events. Knowing these areas can contribute to the choice of disease control strategies.
Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Mellina
M
Yamamura
Centro de Ciências Sociais, Saúde e Tecnologia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Imperatriz, MA, Brazil.
Marcelino
M
Santos-Neto
Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Rebeca Augusto Neman
RA
dos Santos
Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Maria Concebida da Cunha
MC
Garcia
Departamento de Enfermagem Clínica, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
Jordana de Almeida
Jde A
Nogueira
Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Ricardo Alexandre
RA
Arcêncio
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000401:mortality*