INFLUENCE OF CAUSE-OF-DEATH STRUCTURE ON AGE PATTERNS OF MORTALITY INMAURITIUS

Over the period 1969-86, Mauritian mortality declined rapidly, accompa nied by substantial change in its age pattern of mortality and cause-o f-death structure. Using cause-of-death data for this period, this pap er studies the influence of cause-of-death structure on age patterns o f mortality. Infectious and parasitic diseases had marked influence on age patterns of mortality for young Mauritian males, while circulator y causes of death influenced the age pattern of mortality for older Ma uritian males. For females, their unique age pattern of mortality rema ined unique, largely because of the uniform and smooth change in cause -of-death structure.