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(Title 17 US Code)The epidemiologic transition theory revisited thirty years later
Abdel R. Omran
Background
“Aswearrive at thenewmillennium, documentingand
reflecting on the past can guide the future. This is
one of the functions of the Epidemiologic Transition,
‘Theory. The theory is based on the systematic appli-
cation of epidemiologicinference tochanging health,
‘mortality, survival and fertility over time and place
linked to their socio-economic, environmental,
lifestyle, demographic, health care and technologi-
cal determinants and/or correlatesin differentsoci-
etal settings. There can be no doubt that a profound
epidemiological change hasbeen taking place in the
world over the last several centuries, albeit ata vary-
ing pace and take-off time in different populations.
‘The purpose of this essay sto revisit che original
1971 presentation of the Epidemiologic Transition
Theory, moving from a three-stage/three-model for-
mulation toa five stage /fivemodel formulation. This
will make use of the accumulation of information
and insights over the last 80 years as partly demon-
strated in Box 1,
The epidemiologic transition
Epidemiology is the study of health and disease
patterns and their determinants and consequences
in population groups. All of the transitions involved
in both the dependent and independent variables
are the subject of epidemiological study and, hence,
are encompassed by the epidemiologic transition.
Epidemiology incorporates the scientific capacity 10
analyze social, economic, demographic, health care,
technological and environmental changes as they
relate to health outcomes. Classifying all the changes
in these variablesunder the “health wansition” would,
however, be confusing. Health is a dependent vari-
able of epidemiology, not vicewversa, Figure 1 dia-
grammatically portrays the dynamics involved in the
epidemiologic transition, Triggered by economic
"This paper ian orginal esay by Abdel R. Omran, MD., De
PH, Profewor in the Department of International Public
Hetith, School of Public Health and Health Services, George
‘Washington Universi, Washington, D.C, USA. Dr Omran died
in Apri 1999, Ar the time, be had completed the draft of this
manuscript Several members ofthe facly of the Universiy
feviewed the work including Dr Ayman El Mobandes, Dr Glen
(Geelhood, Dr Daniel Hoffman, Dr Gilbert Kombe, Dr Richard
Southby and Dr Wiliam Witers The final article was completed
by Dr Rosalia Rodriguez Garcia, Profesor and Chait, and De
[ames Banta, Profestor of the Deparment of tnternational
Public Health, Thanks are extended abo to Susna De for her
asiance in compleing the atl
Wid hth statist. quart, 1 (1996)
Boxt
Evolution ofthe epidemiologic transition theory
CConcaved by Oman nthe mid-1960s (1), the theory was
published in its original form in 1971 (2). Subsequent
applications (3), summaries (4) and a preliminary update
(6jtolowed. Since then efforts for amore definitive update
have been undertaken. This has been prompted further by
‘growing interest in the epidemiologic transition in the
demographic (6), health 7,89) and soca science Iitera-
ture (10), Additional, several papers nave used the righ
ral 1971 version or its preliminary update in scholarly
applications to specific populations (11,12). Papers by
Dishansky and Ault in 1986 (13) and by Rogers and
Hackenberg 14) suggested aFourt stage based primarily
fn the experience of the USA. Frenk eta. (1989) (76)
suggested a model for intermediate economies based pr-
marly on the experience of Mexico. Constructive and
insightful a5 these recommendations are, the definitive
‘update must perforee incorporate experiences based on
wider geographic, temporal and conceptual inputs. The
ravisied formulation wasbrieti describedin 1989 (76)and
was applied more recenty tothe ransionsinthe Americas
ia 1996 document commissioned bythe Pan American
Health Organization (PAHO) (17)
‘and social development, the epidemiologic wansi-
tion encompasses the changing disease and health
patterns (the health transition), the changing fertik
ity and population age structure leading to ageing
(partsof the demographic transition), the changing
lifestyles (the lifestyle transition) the changing health
‘care patterns (the health care transition), the medi-
‘cal and technological evolutions (the technologic
transition), and the environmental and ecological
changes (the ecological transition)
‘The relative role of mortality and fertility experi-
ences in the transition dynamics is discussed under
Proposition 1. The long-term dynamics of the tran-
sition are classified into atleast five transition stages,
which are described under Proposition 2. The par
ticular determinants of mortality and fertility changes.
are given thereafter, Different kinds of inequities
are noted during the transition and are captured
‘under Proposition 3, Transition models characteriz-
ing the dynamics, timing of the transition take-off,
and subsequent changes in different country groups
are briefly discussed in Proposition 4.
Proposition 1: Relative role of mortality and
ferility in the transition
Within the complex dynamics of the epidemiologic
transition, mortality is a most fundamental force,
9Fig. 4
‘The epidemiologic transition dynamics
sTaget powieyetange _s-Oreipaete Merge. __ Fame
enenceand Receding Dogenaatve, sess, Dedinirg CVD ‘spire ually of
fanine pagers Spd armade mortally. ageing and wh peste
sieeaes ‘urging seeses—_nequalies
Wealth anton
changing pats of
Heath,
Determinants of
disease and motalty
change
sur
Disease. and Moray
Detarminats ot
fer decline
“SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND/OR INDUSTRIALIZATION
Lifestyle and edueation
‘eanlton
erty,
igh ten cies.
truce,
young ten older
‘DEMOGRAPHIC
"TRANSITION
Heath care
ston
Contaues ¢ynamie
change wth chraiy pls
merging disease
czeding to raeston mo
‘eetne i CDs: actual (Wes!)
for poteial in non-western
models
ol
‘QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL
Teholoneal Environments
"ronson actos
ow fine Taniton
exerting its influence through rss in premodern |
cee ve chrough declinesia modern times. Feri
fpiisa potent co-azable staying atahigh evel in he |
aries, then declining and becoming virtually
re acceter of population grovth, Reversal oF stg |
the Pace tthe traniuon is posible during economic, |
Matteal environmental, morbidity or other eres.)
vataliy The absence of continuows and tei
ai Te at moray and ety |
in premodern times and in preandustrial countries |
we eeadee determininuestaements about thei ea
Pre demographic impact. An asessment of ie Pos |
ase came of variations in mortals, fertiiy, dix
se Tagrern and age structure does allow |