Objectives:
To describe the changes occurred in some sociodemographic variables and in the living conditions among
the Nasa, Guambiana and Afrocolombian populations in the northern region of the department of Cauca, and those
occurred in two white-mestizo and black residential sectors in Cali, during the 1993-2005 period.
Methods:
It is a descriptive study for which several sociodemographic indicators were calculated through the proces
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sing of census microdata of the years 1993 and 2005: juvenile dependency rate; total masculinity index; mean hou
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sehold size; specific and global fecundity, and infant mortality rates; life expectancy; mean years of schooling; health
coverage; and percentage of population with unmet basic needs (UBN). In this way, the notorious differences in the
sociodemographic and standard of living trends between the different populations under study can be stressed.
Results:
The Guambiana population of the Silva town presents lower fertility rates than the Nasa population, still cha
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racterized for presenting early fertility rates. Unlike the northern Cauca Indian people, the Afrocolombian population
from this region and the one resident in Cali’s black popular urban classes tends to show similar socio-demographic
patterns.
Conclusions:
Although there have been deep changes during this period among the populations under study, the
ethnic-racial inequalities seem to persist. From this first diagnosis, attention is called to the need for a more adequate
reproductive health policy to attend the specific needs present among the Indian population