Demographic and epidemiological transition
Document Type
Book chapter
Source Publication
The International Encyclopedia of Geography
Publication Date
3-20-2017
First Page
1379
Last Page
1386
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
Keywords
Age, economic development, epidemiology, health, inequality, modernization, population(s), public health, urbanization
Abstract
Demographic transition refers to the shift in vital rates within population groups at various geographical scales from a pattern of high birth (fertility) and death (mortality) rates to one of low rates. Epidemiologic(al) transition, a somewhat more recent concept, considers patterns of mortality change and causes of death (and sometimes ill health) from patterns dominated by infectious diseases to those in which chronic, degenerative physical ailments predominate, and increasingly mental ill-health conditions, including dementias. Paralleling both these transitions are recognized related changes such as “nutrition transition” and aging transition. All these patterns are evident internationally, regionally, and locally, but it is recognized that they may not be unidirectional. Indeed, different “speeds” of transition may occur in different places and sometimes reverses or mixed patterns may be observed.
DOI
10.1002/9781118786352
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. All rights reserved. Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Additional Information
ISBN of the source publication: 9781118786352
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
McCracken, K., & Phillips, D. R. (2017). Demographic and Epidemiological Transition. In D. Richardson (Ed.), The International Encyclopedia of Geography (pp. 1379-1386). New York: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1002/9781118786352