HEALTH STATUS OF PUERTO RICAN WOMEN
Mortality
Data in Puerto Rican Women
Most recent mortality data available from the Department of Health
(Preliminary Vital Statistics for 1997) was analyzed in order to assess the most frequent causes
of mortality in Puerto Rican women. The results of our preliminary analysis are illustrated in
Figure 12. It should be noted that for year 1997, estimated total population in Puerto Rico was
3,805,003, with a female population estimated in 1,966,191 (52%) and an estimated male population
of 1,838,812 (48%). Source of Population Data: Government of Puerto Rico Planning Board, Census
Office. From these data it is evident that heart diseases, cancer and diabetes are the leading
causes of death among Puerto Rican women.
