Mortality Experience in a Rapidly Developing Economy in Taiwan: Infant Mortality, Gender Gap, and Occupational Risks

Mortality data of Taiwan for 1981 through 1986 were analyzed using three different statistics in order to assess the role of environmental and lifestyle factors in causing mortality variations. Infant mortality rates from different geographic regions generally correlated well with overall mortality...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Asia-Pacific journal of public health 1992-10, Vol.6 (4), p.217-225
Main Authors: Wen, Chi-Pang, Tsai, Shu-Fang, Tsai, Shan-Pou
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Cause of Death - trends
Child
Child Survival
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Infant
Infant Mortality
Infant, Newborn
Male
Middle Aged
Neoplasms - epidemiology
Neoplasms - etiology
Neoplasms - mortality
Occupations
Sex Factors
Taiwan
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Summary:Mortality data of Taiwan for 1981 through 1986 were analyzed using three different statistics in order to assess the role of environmental and lifestyle factors in causing mortality variations. Infant mortality rates from different geographic regions generally correlated well with overall mortality from all ages, suggesting that there are many common risk factors affecting the entire age range of the population. The mortality rates of tobacco- and alcohol-related causes of death and cancers were much higher in males than females. A number of cancer sites, including the lung, the liver, the stomach, and the nasopharynx, showed more than twofold excesses in males. In contrast, females had a tenfold excess of genital cancer and a 33% higher rate of diabetes. With rapid industrialization, occupational hazards played an increasing role in the development of cancer and other causes of death. During the study period, fishermen showed increased risk for cancers of the stomach, the esophagus, and the liver, while construction workers had an increased risk for cancer of the esophagus. Peasants and soldiers had an elevated suicide mortality. Among apprentices, fatal injuries were high. Findings from this study are useful in setting priorities for health and safety programs and directing efforts such as health education programs and other preventive strategies against disease.
ISSN:1010-5395
1941-2479
DOI:10.1177/101053959200600407