Causes of Death and Mortality Transition in India

According to SRS, since 1980s, mortality rates have been declining continuously among the Indian adult and older ages. Alongside, the morbidity rates increased remarkably during the last two decade. In the current state of mortality transition, country is witnessing the unique phenomena of low mortality and high morbidity during the last two decade. Kumar (1993) addressed low mortality and high morbidity in Kerala, which seems to be true for India and bigger states in present demographic scenario. During 1995/96-2004, the prevalence rate of chronic NCDs increased four-folds than other categories of diseases. Consequently, chronic NCDs were responsible for major share of deaths than any other major categories of causes of death (Visaria 2004). As a result, the mortality transition progresses with greater pace during the last two decade. Modal age at death (M) increased linearly by 5 years for both females and males (r2=0.9515 for females and r2=0.9020 for males). Significant increase in modal age at death ascertained the dominance of old age mortality over the adult age mortality. Among the demographically advanced states, Kerala is foremost where old age mortality has been in dominance since 1970s compared to less advanced state say Uttar Pradesh, where the old age mortality has been in dominance since 1990s.