Higiene alimentaria y mortalidad en la España contemporánea (1900-1974): el ejemplo de la fiebre tifoidea y la diarrea y enteritis (en menores de dos años)

During the xx century in Spain, a decrease in mortality related to food hazards was observed as the health interest in food hygiene problems increased and the infrastructures related to the water cycle improved. This decrease in mortality was only interrupted by the civil war and the post-war period. With the objective of examining the determining factors that may explain this behaviour, this article analyses the geographical distribution (autonomous communities) of the evolution of the causes of death (typhoid fever, diarrhoea and enteritis in less than two year-olds) related to food hazards and their condition of food hygiene indicators. The death information in the Natural Movement of Population of the National Statistics Institute between 1900 and 1974 was collected. After obtaining the mortality gross rates, the Index 100 of each autonomous community was used to determine the differences. In a context of general mortality decrease, results show two different patterns for each cause. The communities which were more affected by typhoid fever were those in the Mediterranean coast, due to their problems related to water cycle and deficient urbanization processes. In the case of diarrhoea and enteritis in less than two year-olds), the most affected communities where those living in the inner Spain. In this last case, in addition to the poor socioeconomic, hygienic and sanitary development we should highlight the role of eating habits and inappropriate dietetic practices.