EPIDEMIOLOGIC TRANSITION IN LATIN-AMERICA - THE CASE OF CHILE

To describe Chile's stage of epidemiological transition, a descriptive study of the changes to the demographic and economic profile of this country during the last 20 years is presented. The decline in the tota l fertility rate from 3.4 in 1970 to 2.6 in 1992 and the important dec rease in general and infant mortality rate has led to an increase of l ife expectancy of 8 years for men and 9 years for women. This has resu lted in changes to the age structure and causes of mortality and morbi dity of the population. A reduction of 82% in the proportion of deaths among children <1 year and a 73% increase of mortality amongst those 65 years and older can be observed. In line with these changes non-com municable diseases have increased from 53.7% of all deaths in 1970 to 74.9% in 1991. In the same period mortality rates from cardiovascular causes have decreased from 189.6 to 161.1 per 100000 population, whils t their relative proportion of all causes has increased from 22.3% to 29%. High prevalence of risk factors should lead to a significant incr ease of chronic diseases in future years. Regarding morbidity, a high incidence rate for tuberculosis persists together with an increase of infections of the digestive system and of sexually transmitted disease s. A decrease in the rates of diseases preventable by immunisation has been noted. It is concluded that, as defined by population mortality statistics, Chile is in a post-transition stage bur with a persistence of some infectious diseases corresponding to a transitional stage of development.