Epidemiological transition

Epidemiological transition (pronunciation: /ˌepɪˌdiːmiəˈlɒdʒɪkəl trænˈsɪʃən/) is a theory which describes the changing patterns of population age distributions, mortality, fertility, life expectancy, and causes of death. It was first formulated by Abdel Omran in 1971.

Etymology

The term "epidemiological transition" is derived from the field of epidemiology, the study of how, when, and where diseases occur in populations. The word "transition" refers to the shift in health and disease patterns over time.

Phases of Epidemiological Transition

The epidemiological transition model is typically divided into four phases:

1. The Age of Pestilence and Famine (Pre-industrial societies): Characterized by high mortality rates and low life expectancy.
2. The Age of Receding Pandemics (Industrial societies): Improvements in sanitation, nutrition, and medicine lead to a decline in deaths from infectious diseases.
3. The Age of Degenerative and Man-Made Diseases (Post-industrial societies): Chronic, non-communicable diseases become the primary causes of death.
4. The Age of Delayed Degenerative Diseases: Continued improvements in medical technology lead to further increases in life expectancy.

Related Terms

• Demographic transition
• Health transition
• Nutritional transition
• Omran's theory

See Also

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Global Health

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Epidemiological transition
• Wikipedia's article - Epidemiological transition

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