Trends of cause-specific mortality in union territory of Chandigarh

Abstract

Data on causes of death are an important source of information on death. Such data are crucial for monitoring the reasons why people die; and targeting where, when and how health resources should be used. The reliable information on deaths compiled cause-wise is an essential input to planning, managing and evaluating the performance of the health sector in the country. The numbers of deaths by cause influence the manner in which resources are allocated to different services, programs and research activities. Also reliable information on deaths by cause is an essential input to the assessment of how cost-effective are new techniques for disease control and health promotion. The epidemiological transition, when the cause of death structure shifts profoundly from infectious to chronic diseases, is underway in most developed countries. The more developed and less developed countries differ significantly with respect to causes of death. Chronic and degenerative diseases associated with old age predominate in the West, whereas infectious and parasitic diseases associated with much younger ages prevail in less developed countries. India is undergoing rapid epidemiological transition as a consequence of economic and social change.(1) The pattern of mortality is a key indicator of the consequent health effects; but up to date, precise and reliable statistics is a big issue. The present study was undertaken to see the trends of mortality in Chandigarh; and also a case study from a superspecialty hospital, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Hospital, was undertaken to know the causes of deaths.