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As described in the scientific literature, indices used to measure social inequalities in health have positive features, but they also have shortcomings, depending on how they are applied. The objective of this article is to put forward and to demonstrate, in both theoretical and practical terms, the advantages of measurements of inequality based on the notion of entropy, which is well known in physics and in information theory. The article defines and presents the main properties of indices based on the notions of entropy and redundancy. The application of the indices is illustrated with two fictitious data sets and also with real data derived from basic health indicators for the Americas, from the Pan American Health Organization. Indices based on the notion of entropy have properties that include: a) not varying with scale changes, b) being symmetrical, c) incorporating a socioeconomic dimension, and d) being easy to interpret thanks to the condition of equivalence between entropy and a system with two categories.

Measuring health inequalities is indispensable for progress in improving the health situation in the Region of the Americas, where the analysis of average values is no longer sufficient. Analyzing health inequalities is a fundamental tool for action that seeks greater equity in health. There are various measurement methods, with differing levels of complexity, and choosing one rather than another depends on the objective of the study. The purpose of this article is to familiarize health professionals and decision-making institutions with methodological aspects of the measurement and simple analysis of health inequalities, utilizing basic data that are regularly reported by geopolitical unit. The calculation method and the advantages and disadvantages of the following indicators are presented: the rate ratio and the rate difference, the effect index, the population attributable risk, the index of dissimilarity, the slope index of inequality and the relative index of inequality, the Gini coefficient, and the concentration index. The methods presented are applicable to measuring various types of inequalities and at different levels of analysis.

The purpose of this study is to present a combined analysis of eight outbreaks of human rabies transmitted by bats in Brazil and Peru. Some factors present in many outbreaks were identified, as follows: most of the outbreaks occurred in small villages in the rural Amazonian region; there was a change of local production processes; little or no cattle was present; the houses were vulnerable; access to health services was difficult. Other information was also analyzed, for instance: attack rate; incubation period; site of the attack; occupation, sex and age of the victim. As part of the study of these recent outbreaks, a review of the bibliography on human rabies transmitted by bats was also carried out.

This paper analyzes which of the possible public health models could contribute to an understanding of human rabies outbreaks transmitted by bats. First, we present a short review of the most common pertinent models. Second, we present an investigation of a human rabies outbreak transmitted by bats based on the socio-epidemiological model. The same outbreak is analyzed again using the complex system theory as a theoretical framework, as both a theoretical-practical exercise seeking an approximation to this theory and a model to study this problem.

A historical review of the treatment of human rabies from ancient times up to the present is undertaken. An attempt is made to trace parallel between the concept of the main cause of rabies in a certain period and the kind of treatment utilized. The ancient Greek goddess Artemis was considered to be a healer of rabies; they already identified wound cauterization. People of the first century A.D. knew of the infection deriving from the saliva of a rabid dog and called it virus (in Latin). During medieval times when a magical and religious concept regarding health was prevalent, the principal protector was called St. Humbert. During the Renaissance many experiments were carried out and new information on the disease was obtained, both were basic in opening the way for new findings in the future. At that time the miasmatic and contagious theories were predominant. Pasteur strongly objected to the idea of the spontaneity of rabies. At the end of the XIXth. century and based on microbial discoveries, Pasteur brought about a great scientific revolution as regards the possibility of treating rabies by using a vaccine. At the present time, vaccines are of the nervous type or not, and the recommended dose varies. A large-number of studies on vaccination have been undertaken. In Latin America the most used are those by Fuenzalida and Palacios. At present, WHO recommends the vaccine made by cell culture.