Divergent mortality trends by ethnicity in Fiji
Abstract Objective: To examine trends in infant mortality rate (IMR), adult mortality and life expectancy (LE) in the two major Fijian ethnic groups since 1975. Methods: Estimates of IMR, adult mortality (15–59 years) and LE by ethnicity are calculated from previously unreported Fiji Ministry of Hea...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2013-12-01
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| Series: | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12116 |
| _version_ | 1797715896215535616 |
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| author | Richard Taylor Karen Carter Shivnay Naidu Christine Linhart Syed Azim Chalapati Rao Alan D. Lopez |
| author_facet | Richard Taylor Karen Carter Shivnay Naidu Christine Linhart Syed Azim Chalapati Rao Alan D. Lopez |
| author_sort | Richard Taylor |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective: To examine trends in infant mortality rate (IMR), adult mortality and life expectancy (LE) in the two major Fijian ethnic groups since 1975. Methods: Estimates of IMR, adult mortality (15–59 years) and LE by ethnicity are calculated from previously unreported Fiji Ministry of Health data and extracted from published sources. Results: Over 1975–2008: IMR decreased from 33 to 20 deaths/1,000 live births in i‐Taukei (Fiji Melanesians); and 38 to 18 in Fijians of Indian descent. Increased adult male mortality among i‐Taukei and decline among Fijians of Indian descent led to an equal probability of dying in 2007 of 29%; while in female adults the probability trended upwards in i‐Taukei to 25%, and declined in Fijians of Indian descent to 17%. Life expectancy in both ethnicities increased until 1985 (to 64 years for males; 68 for females) then forming a plateau in males of both ethnicities, and Fijian females of Indian descent, but declining in i‐Taukei females to 66 years in 2007. Conclusions: Despite IMR declines over 1975–2008, LE for i‐Taukei and Fijians of Indian descent has not increased since 1985, and has actually decreased in i‐Taukei women, consistent with trends in adult mortality (15–59 years). Mortality analyses in Fiji that consider the entire population mask divergent trends in the major ethnic groups. This situation is most likely a consequence of non‐communicable disease mortality, requiring further assessment and a strengthened response. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T08:13:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-202e190c124e4b048f0aeb787c4360d7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1326-0200 1753-6405 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T08:13:36Z |
| publishDate | 2013-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-202e190c124e4b048f0aeb787c4360d72023-09-02T19:01:07ZengElsevierAustralian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health1326-02001753-64052013-12-0137650951510.1111/1753-6405.12116Divergent mortality trends by ethnicity in FijiRichard Taylor0Karen Carter1Shivnay Naidu2Christine Linhart3Syed Azim4Chalapati Rao5Alan D. Lopez6School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales School of Population Health, University of QueenslandSchool of Population Health University of QueenslandFiji Islands Ministry of Health FijiSchool of Public Health and Community Medicine University of New South WalesSchool of Public Health and Community Medicine University of New South WalesSchool of Population Health University of QueenslandMelbourne School of Population and Global Health The University of Melbourne VictoriaAbstract Objective: To examine trends in infant mortality rate (IMR), adult mortality and life expectancy (LE) in the two major Fijian ethnic groups since 1975. Methods: Estimates of IMR, adult mortality (15–59 years) and LE by ethnicity are calculated from previously unreported Fiji Ministry of Health data and extracted from published sources. Results: Over 1975–2008: IMR decreased from 33 to 20 deaths/1,000 live births in i‐Taukei (Fiji Melanesians); and 38 to 18 in Fijians of Indian descent. Increased adult male mortality among i‐Taukei and decline among Fijians of Indian descent led to an equal probability of dying in 2007 of 29%; while in female adults the probability trended upwards in i‐Taukei to 25%, and declined in Fijians of Indian descent to 17%. Life expectancy in both ethnicities increased until 1985 (to 64 years for males; 68 for females) then forming a plateau in males of both ethnicities, and Fijian females of Indian descent, but declining in i‐Taukei females to 66 years in 2007. Conclusions: Despite IMR declines over 1975–2008, LE for i‐Taukei and Fijians of Indian descent has not increased since 1985, and has actually decreased in i‐Taukei women, consistent with trends in adult mortality (15–59 years). Mortality analyses in Fiji that consider the entire population mask divergent trends in the major ethnic groups. This situation is most likely a consequence of non‐communicable disease mortality, requiring further assessment and a strengthened response.https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12116infant mortalityadult mortalitylife expectancyFijinon‐communicable disease |
| spellingShingle | Richard Taylor Karen Carter Shivnay Naidu Christine Linhart Syed Azim Chalapati Rao Alan D. Lopez Divergent mortality trends by ethnicity in Fiji Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health infant mortality adult mortality life expectancy Fiji non‐communicable disease |
| title | Divergent mortality trends by ethnicity in Fiji |
| title_full | Divergent mortality trends by ethnicity in Fiji |
| title_fullStr | Divergent mortality trends by ethnicity in Fiji |
| title_full_unstemmed | Divergent mortality trends by ethnicity in Fiji |
| title_short | Divergent mortality trends by ethnicity in Fiji |
| title_sort | divergent mortality trends by ethnicity in fiji |
| topic | infant mortality adult mortality life expectancy Fiji non‐communicable disease |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12116 |
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