Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2010.

Orientador: Vania dos Santos Nunes Nogueira / Resumo: Objetivo: esta revisão sistemática da literatura e metanálise comparou a taxa da mortalidade na acromegalia com a taxa esperada na população geral dos estudos publicados antes de 2009 versus estudos publicados após. Métodos: foram criadas três estratégias de busca gerais e adaptáveis às bases de dados eletrônicas na área da saúde: Embase (1980–2015), Pubmed (1966–2016) e Biblioteca Virtual da Saúde (1982–2016). Foram incluídos estudos observacionais em que a mortalidade na acromegalia foi comparada à da população geral, por meio do número de mortes observadas nessa doença em comparação à taxa de mortalidade esperada para população geral (O/E). A partir do O/E, recalculamos todos os Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR) e os seus respectivos intervalos de confiança (IC) que foram plotados em uma metanálise. Resultados: foram identificadas 1005 referências, dois revisores independentemente leram os títulos e resumos desses artigos. Dos 27 estudos potencialmente elegíveis, 23 foram incluídos e quatro foram excluídos por não preencherem os critérios de elegibilidade. A mortalidade geral na acromegalia foi significativamente superior a da população geral (SMR: 1,66, IC 1,44 - 1,93, p < 0,00001, I2 84%). Separando os artigos publicados a partir de 2009, a mortalidade na acromegalia não foi significativamente diferente 1,29 (IC 0,95-1,76, p=0,10, I2 86%). Nas análises por subgrupo de acordo com o status da doença, sete estudos consideraram como curados os pacientes que apresentaram a n... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Objective: This systematic literature review and meta-analysis compared the mortality rate in acromegaly with the expected rate in the general population of studies published before 2009 versus studies published after. Methods: three general and adaptive search strategies were created from the electronic databases in the health area: Embase (1980-2015), Pubmed (1966-2016) and Virtual Health Library. Observational studies were included in which the mortality in acromegaly was compared to the general population, the number of deaths observed compared to the expected mortality rate in the general population (O/E). From O/E, we recalculated all the Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR) and their respective confidence intervals (CI) that were plotted in a meta-analysis. Results: 1005 references were identified and two reviewers independently read the titles and abstracts of these articles. Of the 27 potentially eligible studies, 23 were included and four were excluded because they did not meet the eligibility criteria. Overall mortality in acromegaly was significantly higher than the general population (SMR: 1.66, CI 1.44 - 1.93, p <0.00001, I² 84%). Analyzing articles published as of 2009, the mortality in acromegaly was not significantly different, SMR 1.29 (CI 0.95-1.76, p = 0.10, I² 86%). In subgroup analyzes according to disease status, seven studies considered patients with IGF-1 normalization associated with random GH <2.5 ng / mL as cured. In these individuals, the SMR was 0.... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

p. 1-54 / Submitted by Santiago Fabio (fabio.ssantiago@hotmail.com) on 2013-04-25T19:42:20Z No. of bitstreams: 3 Elsa%20Capas.pdf: 34075 bytes, checksum: ef49c4a459c9f8b972e86a5f5397d6fd (MD5) ELSA%20Parte%201.pdf: 87067 bytes, checksum: c17c80db8cdaa69e23fd49da75fdb9eb (MD5) Elsa%20Parte%202.pdf: 265809 bytes, checksum: b2fd70240e2015c603c0699cb4bf4491 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Creuza Silva(mariakreuza@yahoo.com.br) on 2013-05-04T17:21:35Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 3 Elsa%20Capas.pdf: 34075 bytes, checksum: ef49c4a459c9f8b972e86a5f5397d6fd (MD5) ELSA%20Parte%201.pdf: 87067 bytes, checksum: c17c80db8cdaa69e23fd49da75fdb9eb (MD5) Elsa%20Parte%202.pdf: 265809 bytes, checksum: b2fd70240e2015c603c0699cb4bf4491 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-05-04T17:21:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 3 Elsa%20Capas.pdf: 34075 bytes, checksum: ef49c4a459c9f8b972e86a5f5397d6fd (MD5) ELSA%20Parte%201.pdf: 87067 bytes, checksum: c17c80db8cdaa69e23fd49da75fdb9eb (MD5) Elsa%20Parte%202.pdf: 265809 bytes, checksum: b2fd70240e2015c603c0699cb4bf4491 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Introdução: O alto nível de mortalidade perinatal é um grande desafio para a redução da mortalidade infantil, pois ela se relaciona não apenas com o desenvolvimento humano mas, sobretudo, com a qualidade da assistência obstétrica e neonatal. Objetivo: Descrever as características e a evolução da mortalidade perinatal no município de Salvador, Bahia de 1998 a 2007. Metodologia: Estudo descritivo de 11.080 casos de óbitos perinatais de mães residentes em Salvador, com tempo de gestação superior ou igual a 22 semanas e idade do recém-nascido até 7 dias. As fontes de dados foram o Sistema de Informações de Nascidos Vivos (SINASC) e o Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade (SIM) do Ministério da Saúde. Na análise utilizou-se o teste χ2 de Pearson e o cálculo das médias móveis. Os indicadores empregados foram as taxas de mortalidade. Resultados: A taxa de mortalidade perinatal mostrou tendência decrescente a partir do ano 2000, tendo decrescido em 22,1% de 33,1/1.000 nascimentos em 2000 para 25,8/1.000 em 2007, com a maior contribuição proveniente da taxa de mortalidade neonatal precoce em relação à fetal. A taxa de mortalidade fetal anteparto apresentou-se 34 vezes maior do que a intraparto. A análise dos dados constatou ainda que as principais causas de morte foram a prematuridade e a asfixia intraparto. Conclusão: As causas de óbito verificadas são sobejamente descritas como evitáveis; a identificação de seus fatores determinantes através de estudos específicos poderá servir de suporte ao planejamento de intervenções estratégicas, que diminuiriam a ocorrência de óbitos perinatais em Salvador. / Salvador

Submitted by Maria Creuza Silva (mariakreuza@yahoo.com.br) on 2014-07-21T13:33:08Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Maria Cristina Camargo. 2000.pdf: 8022402 bytes, checksum: 296a0873d8b8c457742e9945fb83eb7c (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Creuza Silva (mariakreuza@yahoo.com.br) on 2014-07-21T13:55:22Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Maria Cristina Camargo. 2000.pdf: 8022402 bytes, checksum: 296a0873d8b8c457742e9945fb83eb7c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-21T13:55:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Maria Cristina Camargo. 2000.pdf: 8022402 bytes, checksum: 296a0873d8b8c457742e9945fb83eb7c (MD5) / Este estudo teve como objetivos identificar, descrever e analisar as principais causas da morte materna, do sub-registro e da sub-informação, no período de janeiro a dezembro de 1998. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo e de validação. O método utilizado neste estudo, conhecido por ―RAMOS‖, utiliza todas as possíveis fontes de informações, no rastreamento dos óbitos maternos. Foram estudados 128 casos de óbitos de mulheres em idade fértil, sendo que oito foram óbitos maternos dos quais apenas 3 haviam sido declarados no sistema oficial. O sub-registro encontrado foi de 12,5% e a classificação incorreta das causas maternas respondeu por 50%, totalizando 62,5% de sub-informação. Calcularam-se os coeficientes de mortalidade geral, específicos e proporcionais segundo grupo de causas, idade e município de residência. A análise da composição da mortalidade revelou uma heterogeneidade dos padrões de mortalidade entre os municípios selecionados. A taxa de mortalidade materna oficial foi de 61,6/100.000 nascidos vivos, e a taxa corrigida foi de 164,3/100.000 nascidos vivos, 2,7 vezes maior que a primeira. Os resultados indicam que 3/4 das mortes maternas ocorreram no puerpério precoce, e 1/4 durante a gravidez. As principais causas responsáveis foram às obstétricas diretas (62,5%). / The purpose of this study were as follows: to identify, describe and analyze the main causes for maternal mortality and the related under-recording and under-information from January through December 1998. A descriptive and validation-type study was conducted. The methodology used, known as ―RAMOS‖, utilizes any possible source of information for tracking the maternal deaths. One hundred twenty-eight cases of female deaths occurred during reproductive age; a total number of eight deaths were maternal ones, however just three of them had been recorded accordingly on the official information system. The under-recording rate was 12.5%, while the incorrect classification for maternal deaths was equivalent to fifty percent, thus totalizing an under-information rate equivalent to 62.5%. The specific and proportional coefficients for general mortality were calculated based on mortality cause, age and municipality of residence. The analysis of the composition of mortality revealed a heterogeneous pattern for mortality rates among the selected municipalities. The official maternal mortality rate was equivalent to 61.6/100.000 live birth, while the adjusted rate was equivalent to 164.3/100.000 live birth, which is 2.7 times higher than the former one. The results indicate that ¾ of maternal deaths occurred during early puerperium, while ¼ took place during pregnancy. The main causes were directly related to the obstetrical condition (62.5%).

nÃo hà / A mortalidade neonatal sofre influÃncia de uma complexa relaÃÃo de fatores socioeconÃmicos, assistenciais e biolÃgicos. Nas duas Ãltimas dÃcadas a mortalidade nos perÃodos peri e neonatal nÃo sofreu declÃnio significativo, devido à permanÃncia dos elevados nÃveis de mortalidade por fatores ligados à gestaÃÃo e ao parto. Atualmente, a mortalidade neonatal representa 60% a 70% da mortalidade infantil em todas as regiÃes brasileiras. Estudos desenhados para investigar os fatores determinantes da mortalidade neonatal tÃm sido amplamente desenvolvidos no Brasil, no entanto, estudos do tipo caso controle utilizando dados primÃrios nÃo foram desenvolvidos na cidade de Fortaleza-Ce nos Ãltimos anos. O estudo objetivou determinar os fatores associados aos Ãbitos neonatais em Fortaleza-Ce no ano de 2009. ConstituÃram os objetivos especÃficos dessa casuÃstica: descrever as caracterÃsticas socioeconÃmicas e demogrÃficas das mÃes e dos recÃm-nascidos para os casos (Ãbitos neonatais) e os controles (recÃm-nascidos sobreviventes), identificar as caracterÃsticas relacionadas à assistÃncia prÃ-natal, parto e ao recÃm-nascido dos Ãbitos neonatais e dos recÃm-nascidos sobreviventes e determinar os fatores preditores da mortalidade neonatal utilizando modelagem hierarquizada. Quanto aos aspectos metodolÃgicos, tratou-se de um estudo do tipo caso-controle, com 132 casos de Ãbitos neonatais e 264 controles obtidos entre os sobreviventes ao perÃodo neonatal. Para os casos foram consideradas as crianÃas nascidas vivas e que morreram antes de completar 28 dias de vida e como controles as que permaneceram vivas neste perÃodo, nascidas em Fortaleza-Ce e filhos de mÃes residentes no municÃpio. As informaÃÃes foram obtidas atravÃs de entrevistas domiciliares por meio de questionÃrio estruturado. As variÃveis foram agrupadas em quatro blocos hierÃrquicos de acordo com modelo conceitual: bloco1-caracterÃsticas socioeconÃmicas e demogrÃficas; bloco2-caracterÃsticas maternas, histÃria reprodutiva, morbidade materna, comportamento materno, apoio social e exposiÃÃo à violÃncia; bloco 3-caracterÃsticas da assistÃncia no prÃ-natal e parto; bloco 4-sexo e condiÃÃes de saÃde do recÃm-nascido. O modelo de anÃlise de regressÃo logÃstica hierarquizada identificou como fatores associados ao Ãbito neonatal: bloco 1- raÃa materna com efeito protetor para raÃa parda e negra (OR: 0,23; IC 95% 0,09-0,56); bloco 3- tempo gasto entre o deslocamento de casa ao hospital igual ou superior a 30 minutos (OR: 3,12; IC 95% 1,34-7,25), tempo inferior à 1 hora ou superior ou igual a 10 horas entre a internaÃÃo e o parto (OR: 2,43; IC 95% 1,24-4,76) e prÃ-natal inadequado (OR: 2,03; IC 95% 1,03-3,99); bloco 4- baixo peso ao nascer (OR:14,75; IC 95% 5,26-41,35), prematuridade (OR: 3,41; IC 95% 1,29-8,98 ) e sexo masculino (OR: 2,09; IC 95% 1,09-4,03). Essa casuÃstica revelou aspectos na determinaÃÃo das mortes neonatais relacionados à qualidade da assistÃncia prÃ-natal oferecida Ãs gestantes, à oferta dos leitos hospitalares, indicando a peregrinaÃÃo das gestantes em busca de maternidades, bem como aspectos relacionados à assistÃncia direta ao trabalho de parto, traduzido pelo determinante tempo superior a 10 horas decorrido entre a internaÃÃo da gestante e o parto. / Neonatal mortality is influenced by a complex interplay of socioeconomic, biological and social assistance. In the last two decades the mortality in the perinatal and neonatal periods not suffered significant declines, due to persistent high levels of mortality factors related to pregnancy and childbirth. Currently, neonatal mortality accounts for 60% to 70% of infant mortality in all regions of Brazil. Studies designed to investigate the determinants of neonatal mortality have been widely developed in Brazil, however, case-control studies using primary data have not been developed in the city of Fortaleza-Ce in recent years. The study aimed to determine factors associated with neonatal deaths in Fortaleza in 2009. Were the specific objectives of this series to describe the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of mothers and newborns in cases (neonatal deaths) and controls (newborn survivors), to identify the features related to prenatal care, childbirth and newborn and neonatal deaths of infants surviving and determine predictors of neonatal mortality using hierarchical modeling. Methodological terms, this was a study of case-control, with 132 cases of neonatal deaths and 264 controls obtained among survivals of the neonatal period. For cases were considered children born alive and died before 28 days of life and how those controls remained alive during this period, born in Fortaleza-Ce and children of mothers living in the city. The information was obtained through home interviews using a structured questionnaire. Variables were grouped into four groups according to hierarchical conceptual model: Block 1-socioeconomic and demographic characteristics; bloco2-maternal characteristics, reproductive history, maternal morbidity, maternal behavior, social support and exposure to violence; 3-block handling characteristics of the pre prenatal and childbirth; block 4-sex and health of the newborn. The model of hierarchical logistic regression analysis identified factors associated with neonatal death: Block 1 - maternal race with a protective effect against brown and black race (OR: 0.23, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.56), block 3 - between the time spent commuting from home to hospital less than 30 minutes (OR: 3.12, 95% CI 1.34 to 7.25), less than 1 hour or greater than or equal to 10 hours between admission and delivery (OR: 2.43, 95% CI 1.24 to 4.76) and inadequate prenatal care (OR: 2.03, 95% CI 1.03 to 3.99) Block 4 - low weight birth (OR: 14.75, 95% CI 5.26 to 41.35), prematurity (OR: 3.41, 95% CI 1.29 to 8.98) and male (OR: 2.09, CI 95% 1.09 to 4.03). This series has revealed aspects of the determination of neonatal deaths related to the quality of prenatal care offered to pregnant women, supply of hospital beds, indicating the pilgrimage of pregnant women seeking maternity, as well as aspects related to direct assistance to labor, translated determining the time over 10 hours elapsed between admission and delivery in pregnant women.

INTRODUÇÃO: A busca do entendimento das causas da mortalidade humana está relacionada diretamente ao conhecimento das condições de vida de uma população. Reduzir a mortalidade de crianças é uma das principais metas das políticas de saúde para a infância em todos os países. No Brasil, apesar da redução da mortalidade infantil (MI) observada nos últimos anos, existem, porém, grandes diferenciais do CMI entre algumas populações. OBJETIVO: Estudar a evolução da mortalidade infantil no Estado de Santa Catarina e a tendência de queda dos óbitos infantis evitáveis nas nove Macrorregiões Estaduais de Saúde do Estado, no período de 1997- 2008. METODOLOGIA: Estudo ecológico de séries temporais com cálculo e análise do CMI, segundo componentes e critérios de evitabilidade para óbitos ocorridos nas nove Macrorregiões catarinenses, no período entre 1997-2008. Foram analisadas, por regressão linear simples, as médias trianuais dos óbitos evitáveis, segundo Macrorregiões, no mesmo período. RESULTADOS: analisados 15.146 óbitos ocorridos no primeiro ano de vida, observou-se que 51por cento , aconteceu entre 0 e 6 dias,13,8por cento entre 7 e 27 dias e 35,8por cento , de 28 a 364 dias de vida. O Estado de Santa Catarina registra um dos menores CMIs do país e apresentou queda de 27,2por cento , principalmente às custas do componente pós-neonatal, mostrando, no entanto, preocupantes taxas de mortalidade infantil por óbitos evitáveis (58,6por cento ) e importantes diferenças no CMI entre as Macrorregiões catarinenses. O CMI por óbitos evitáveis do Planalto Serrano (11,90/00NV) foi o dobro da Macrorregião Nordeste (5,70/00NV). CONCLUSÕES: apesar do declínio do CMI, o Estado de Santa Catarina apresentou estabilização das taxas da MI para o componente neonatal e elevado índice de óbitos evitáveis, com diferenças substanciais das suas taxas entre as Macrorregiões, no período estudado. Essa realidade aponta para a necessidade urgente de estudos sequenciais que elucidem esses fatos, a fim de que intervenções ajustadas ás populações estudadas possam vir a acontecer, diminuindo as mortes infantis no território catarinense / INTRODUCTION: The pursuit for understanding the causes of human mortality is related straight to the knowledge of a living society conditions. The reduction of child mortality is the major goal of children health policies in all countries. In Brazil, despite of the infant mortality reduction observed in recent years, there are, however, huge differences of Infant mortality rate between populations. OBJECTIVE:In order to study the infant mortality evolution in the Santa Catarina State and the downward trend of avoidable child deaths in nine Health Macro-regions in the State, in each triennium from 1997 to 2008. METHODS: An ecological time series studies with calculation and analysis of Infant mortality rate second components of the infant mortality, in the nine Santa Catarina Macro-regions (Brazil) for avoidability deaths in a period between 1997 and 2008, the triennial averages of avoidable deaths, by regions in the same period, were analyzed by simple linear regression. RESULTS: Was analyzed 15,146 deaths in the first year of life between1997- 2008, the data showed that 51per cent of the total occurred from 0 to 6 of life days, 13.8per cent between 7 and 27 days and 35.8per cent of 28 to 364 days of life, the state of Santa Catarina showed a decline of CMI (27.2per cent), mainly due to a postneonatal fees period, showing, however alarming rates of infant mortality from preventable deaths (58.6per cent) and important differences among SC regions of the CMI. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the decline of CMI, the state of Santa Catarina showed stabilization of the neonatal ID and high rate of avoidable deaths, with significant differences in their rates among regions, in the study period. This reality leads to the urgent need for sequential studies that will elucidate these facts, so that interventions set to a studied of a specific populations may happen, reducing child deaths in the territory of Santa Catarina

Orientador: Ericson Batagin / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-04T03:18:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TradNeto_Jose_M.pdf: 5089755 bytes, checksum: 20cb0e0818ae3ad40d0707cdba727b01 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2001 / Resumo: Inúmeros são os estudos de mortalidade entre os trabalhadores expostos ao asbesto na literatura científica mundial. No Brasil, apesar de minerado há mais de meio século, até então nenhuma investigação epidemiológica fora realizada. O presente trabalho estuda a mortalidade entre expostos, a nível ocupacional, ao asbesto na atividade de mineração, em dois períodos distintos. De uma população de 10.394 trabalhadores admitidos no período de 1940-2000, foram estudados 480 óbitos. Utilizou-se o método da Investigação Interamericana de Mortalidade adaptado para a saúde ocupacional. Este trabalho visa a obtenção da causa básica do óbito e avalia a qualidade das informações, descrevendo os perfis de mortalidade nos 480 óbitos, classificados conforme a CID-10. As maiores freqüências de causas de mortalidade são comparáveis aos padrões brasileiros, onde as doenças do aparelho respiratório não figuram entre as três primeiras. O que aprimora a qualidade da informação é o conjunto de dados provenientes dos certificados de óbito, das informações médicas e da entrevista familiar. Esse trabalho descritivo possibilita a proposição de futuros estudos analíticos / Abstract: There are several mortality studies of asbestos workers at scientific literature. In Brazil, this activity exists since 1940 and there is not an epidemiological investigation. This study describes the mortality among asbestos workers in mining activity, on two phases, at different areas of Brazil. There were 10.394 workers registered during 1940-2000. The total number of deaths was 480. It used the Inter-American Investigation of Mortality method, with modifications for occupational health, identifying the underlying cause of death. Describes the mortality types, using the ICD-10 and estimates the information quality. The most mortality causes frequency is comparable to Brazilian standards, where the respiratory diseases aren¿t between the three most frequent. This descriptive study allows inferences for future analytic studies / Mestrado / Saude Coletiva / Mestre em Saude Coletiva

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment, course and outcome of pregnancy in Finland using two cohorts of diabetic women. The clinical cohort consisted of data from all 210 women with Type 1 diabetes and their 296 pregnancies managed between 1986 and 1995 in the two northernmost provinces of Finland. The register-based study population included all 1442 mothers with a singleton birth who had insulin treatment during pregnancy in 1991-1995 according to the Medical Birth Register. Of these mothers, 954 (66%) had pre-existing diabetes. Insulin-treated diabetes complicated 4.5/1000 births in Finland in 1991-1995, the prevalence of Type 1 diabetes being 2.9/1000 in the whole country and 3.3/1000 in Northern Finland. In the 1990's the care of these women shifted from tertiary level only to include the secondary level hospitals as well, and was more often carried out on an out-patient basis. This care policy in association with the self-monitoring of blood glucose levels contributed to an obvious improvement in glycaemic control during pregnancy. Despite that, the high proportion (73%) of women entering pregnancy with unsatisfactory glycaemic control did not decrease during the study period. Retinopathy complicated 134 (45.3%) diabetic pregnancies, while clinical nephropathy was found in 23 (7.8%) cases. Although retinopathy was more often aggravated during the first pregnancy, the occurrence of retinopathy or its severe form was not increased at the beginning of consecutive pregnancies. Of the mothers, 50 (16.9%) had pre-eclampsia during pregnancy, and in 28% of these cases it was classified as superimposed. It was found more often among primiparous than multiparous (25.6% vs. 11.0%, respectively), and its occurrence rose with the severity of diabetes. In both cohorts, the rates of preterm deliveries, Caesarean sections and large for gestational age (LGA) infants were significantly (p &lt; 0.001) higher in Type 1 diabetic pregnancies than in the background population. The rates of congenital anomalies (CA) were 540-629/10000 in two study populations, both being 2-3-fold as compared to the background population. Cardiac malformations were most common, with anomalies in the genitourinary tract and the musculoskeletal organs being next in frequency. Sixty-three percent of malformed infants were boys. Though pregnancy itself was not found to worsen the prognosis of diabetes, at least in the short term, pregnancy in diabetic women still remains a high risk state with an increased rate of prematurity, operative deliveries, CAs and peri- and neonatal mortality. In order to decrease the mortality rate in diabetic births, attention should be directed at both the prevention of CA and at identifying the foetuses at risk for intrauterine death. The postneonatal mortality rate is also high, reflecting a shift in the deaths from the early neonatal period to a later age. Therefore, a combined mortality, including induced abortions, stillborns and infant deaths, would give a more realistic idea of the outcomes in diabetic pregnancies.

Article 334 of the Constitution of India (1950) stipulates that certain electoral districts in each state should be reserved for minority groups, namely the “Scheduled Caste”(SC) and the Scheduled Tribe”(ST), through the reservation of seats in the states' legislative assemblies. Even though the original article stated that the reservation policy would be in place for just twenty years, it has been amended several times and is still in effect. This dissertation examines the impact of the policy on the education and health outcomes of the SC population. Variations in seat quotas are generated by the timing of elections in different states and the states’ fluctuating SC populations. The first paper on education uses data from 25 Indian States and 3 Union Territories for the years 1990-2011 to form a panel dataset to estimate the impact of the quota system on both enrollment and dropout rates among SC students in all levels of schooling. I use the fixed effect regression to test the mechanisms through which an elected SC legislator could have an influence on the education outcomes for the SC population in the represented state. I then use the resulting variables as my controls to identify the causal relationship using the dynamic panel data model. I find that a SC legislator has the potential to influence the number of schools built, as well as the amount of education and welfare expenditure allocated to the SC population. Moreover, I find that the SC political reservation has a positive and statistically significant impact on the SC enrollment rates and a negative and significant impact on the dropout rates, in all levels of schooling. Likewise, I use the NFHS-3 dataset and the Cox Proportional Hazard Model to estimate the hazard rates (risks of dying) of children under the age of 12 months (IMR) and under the age of 60 months (U5MR) as influenced by different SC quota share quintiles. I find that the 50-60% quota-share quintile has the biggest impact in reducing the IMR and U5MR among the SC children.

Multivariate statistical methods, including recent computing-intensive techniques, are explained and applied in a medical sociology context to study infant death in relation to socioeconomic risk factors of households in Sri Lankan villages. The data analyzed were collected by a team of social scientists who interviewed households in Sri Lanka during 1980-81. Researchers would like to identify characteristics (risk factors) distinguishing those households at relatively high or low risk of experiencing an infant death. Furthermore, they would like to model temporal and structural relationships among important risk factors. Similar statistical issues and analyses are relevant to many sociological and epidemiological studies. Results from such studies may be useful to health promotion or preventive medicine program planning. With respect to an outcome such as infant death, risk groups and discriminating factors or variables can be identified using a variety of statistical discriminant methods, including Fisher's parametric (normal) linear discriminant, logistic linear discrimination, and recursive partitioning (CART). The usefulness of a particular discriminant methodology may depend on distributional properties of the data (whether the variables are dichotomous, ordinal, normal, etc.,) and also on the context and objectives of the analysis. There are at least three conceptual approaches to statistical studies of risk factors. An epidemiological perspective uses the notion of relative risk. A second approach, generally referred to as classification or discriminant analysis, is to predict a dichotomous outcome, or class membership. A third approach is to estimate the probability of each outcome, or of belonging to each class. These three approaches are discussed and compared; and appropriate methods are applied to the Sri Lankan household data. Path analysis is a standard method used to investigate causal relationships among variables in the social sciences. However, the normal multiple regression assumptions under which this method is developed are very restrictive. In this thesis, limitations of path analysis are explored, and alternative loglinear techniques are considered. / Science, Faculty of / Statistics, Department of / Graduate