Title: Contrasts in mortality trends.

POPLINE Document Number: 076876

Author(s):

Jozan P

Source citation:

In: International Population Conference/Congres International de la Population, New Delhi, September/septembre 20-27, 1989. Vol. 3. Liege, Belgium, International Union for the Scientific Study of Population, 1989. :231-45.

Abstract:

People born in the 1980s can expect to survive 73.1 years if they were born in developed countries, but only 57.3 years if they were born in developing countries. Mortality contrasts can also be observed in industrialized countries. Life expectancy at birth is 78.1 years in Japan (1986) but only 69 years in the Soviet Union (1985-1986). The period after World War II was among the most successful in terms of increases in longevity, but these were uneven. Life expectancy increased 15 years in Japan, but only 4 years in the Soviet Union. It is noteworthy how much socioeconomic development and mortality decline are interrelated. The most remarkable mortality decline can be observed in Japan which also made the most spectacular progress in economic development after World War II. On the other hand, the Soviet Union which met unexpected difficulties in socioeconomic development over the last 2 decades or so also experienced increases in mortality which had nothing to do with aging. The increase in life expectancy has been more favorable to females than to males. There is no consensus on the contribution of medicine to the recent decline in mortality. It is thought that medicine is unable to cure most neoplasms and that it cannot reverse the process of chronic degenerative diseases if they have already caused anatomical damage. However, if medicine is considered in a broad sense as also promoting healthful practices, its relevance in decreasing mortality grows substantially.

Keywords:

Developed Countries
Differential Mortality
Sex Factors
Age Factors
Economic Development
Infant Mortality Changes
Medicine
Life Style
Changes
Mortality
Population Dynamics
Demographic Factors
Population
Population Characteristics
Economic Factors
Infant Mortality
Health Services
Delivery of Health Care
Health
Behavior
Social Change