Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29352631›Full record

ArticleAnnals of epidemiology2018

We could learn much more from 1918 pandemic-the (mis)fortune of research relying on original death certificates.

Wladimir J Alonso, Francielle C Nascimento, Gerardo Chowell, Cynthia Schuck-Paim

Abstract readHistorical Article
In one paragraph

Article in Annals of epidemiology, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Wladimir J AlonsoLaboratory for Human Evolutionary and Ecological Studies, Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: wladimir.j.alonso@wolfson.oxon.org.
Francielle C NascimentoUniversidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Florianópolis, Brazil.
Gerardo ChowellDivision of International Epidemiology and Population Studies, Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD; School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta.
Cynthia Schuck-PaimOrigem Scientifica, São Paulo, Brazil.

Funding

Intramural NIH HHS Z99 TW999999
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThe analysis of historical death certificates has enormous potential for understanding how the health of populations was shaped by diseases and epidemics and by the implementation of specific interventions. In Brazil, the systematic archiving of mortality records was initiated only in 1944-hence the analysis of death registers before this time requires searching for these documents in public archives, notaries, parishes, and especially ancient cemeteries, which are often the only remaining source of information about these deaths. This article describes an effort to locate original death certificates in Brazil and document their organization, accessibility, and preservation.

methodsTo this end, we conducted an exploratory study in 19 of the 27 Brazilian states, focusing on the period surrounding the 1918 influenza pandemic (1913-1921). We included 55 cemeteries, 22 civil archives, and one military archive.

resultsApart from few exceptions, the results show the absence of a curatorial policy for the organization, access or even physical preservation of this material, frequently leading to unavailability, deterioration, and ultimately its complete loss.

conclusionsThis study indicates the need to promote the preservation of a historical heritage that is a key to understanding historical epidemiological patterns and human responses to global health threats.

Indexed as

Influenza A Virus, H1N1 SubtypeBrazilDeath CertificatesHistory, 20th CenturyHumansInfluenza, HumanMilitary PersonnelPandemics1918Document preservationHistoric documentsInfluenza pandemicPublic records

Identifiers

PMID29352631
PMCPMC5911235

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.