Family identification of China’s mortality patterns and deviation analysis with model life tables

This study identifies China’s mortality pattern families by using data from national and provincial censuses and one-percent sample surveys of China,and then compares them with families in the Coale-Demeny and United Nations model life tables.Based on available data,the findings show there are seven families of mortality patterns in China.Their characteristics differ primarily during adolescence,and young and middle adulthood while resembling during infancy,toddlerhood,childhood and late adulthood or old age.Abnormally higher mortality is seen in females than males during infancy and childhood in three of the seven families of mortality patterns.As for the difference in male and female mortality in old age in the seven families of mortality patterns,it can be ignored.The comparison with the Coale-Demeny and UN model life tables shows the deviations of China’s families of mortality patterns from the families in the two model life tables vary at different mortality levels,with some similarities existing in the deviations at high and low mortality levels,whereas the difference in the deviations at the medium mortality level primarily appears during non-elderly years.The widely used Coale-Demeny West Pattern and the United Nations General Pattern,however,are not applicable to the studies of China’s mortality.Miscalculations commonly happen in the mortality patterns for adolescents,young and middle adults,and elderly people.

Health Inequalities during 20 Years of Rapid Economic Development in China (1980-2000):A Mortality Analysis

Objective To examine the influence of China＇s economic reforms on population health and regional mortality rates.Methods Longitudinal study measuring the mortality trends and their regional variations.Using data from the three most recent national censuses,we used the model life table to adjust the mortality levels within the population for each census,and to calculate life expectancy.We then examined the variation in patterns of mortality and population health by economic status,region and gender from 1980-2000.Results Life expectancy varied with economic status,province,and gender.Results showed that,although life expectancy in China had increased overall since the early 1980s,regional differences became more pronounced.Life expectancy for populations who live in the eastern coastal provinces are greater than those in the western regions.Conclusion Differences in life expectancy are primarily related to differences in regional economic development,which in turn exacerbate regional health inequalities.Therefore,it is necessary to improve economic development in less developed regions and to improve health policies and the public health system that address the needs of everyone.