Epidemiological Transition in Urban Maharashtra: A Revisit

Like other developing countries, India is undergoing rapid epidemiological transition as a result of its demographic, economic and social changes. India is moving from second to third stage of epidemiological transition. However, India is facing both double burdens of diseases that burden of communicable and non-communicable. Lack of accurate data on cause of deaths is a major hindrance to comprehensive assessment of epidemiological transition. The urban Maharashtra known to be the only state where the vital events registration is above 90%. The results are evident that Maharashtra is at third stage of epidemiological transition. Among all causes of death “Diseases of the Circulatory System” is ranked first from 1990 to 2006. For youth, the leading cause of death is “Injury and poisoning” for both males and females. In the adult groups, leading cause of death is” Infectious and parasitic disease”. Among adult males the leading cause of death is” Infectious and parasitic disease” and among adult female it is “disease of circulatory system”. For the old age group, “Disease of circulatory system is the leading cause of death in Urban Maharashtra for both males and females. This indicates that state is non-communicable diseases but the state is facing double burden of diseases.