The Epidemiological Transition: Policy and Planning Implications for Developing Countries

Abstract

Medical Scientists are beginning to understand better some of the trends in the changing disease and mortality patterns but policymakers need to know how to use this information to make decisions about the priorities for the health sector. This Paper is aimed at x-raying this shift in morbidity and mortality patterns and make recommendations for possible shift in planning and policies. Relevant literatures were reviewed from medical journals, library search and internet source using Google search engine as well as international, national and local journals. The key words employed were: Epidemiological Transition with particular emphasis on policy and planning implications in developing countries. Several studies have outlined definitions, stages and historical perspectives of epidemiological transition, as well as the scenarios in developed and developing countries. The impending challenges and policy and planning implications in the developing countries were suggested and outlined in this paper. It is very obvious that epidemiological transition is here with us as there are transformations in the age, cause, and sex structure of death in developing world. Yet not much progress has been made towards averting the dire consequences. A fundamental policy shift therefore needs to be put in place.