Mortality transition in the Ovamboland region of Namibia, 1930-1990

Few long-term statistical series exist that can document the mortality tran sition in Africa. This paper uses data from the parish registers of the Eva ngelical Lutheran Church in Namibia to study mortality in Ovamboland betwee n 1930 and 1990. The paper identifies significant discontinuities and rever sals in the trend in mortality. Much of the mortality transition occurred i n a rapid breakthrough concentrated between the early 1950s and early 1960s . Adult mortality fell more than existing model life tables would predict a nd the pattern of relatively high early-age mortality typical of modern Afr ica emerged only at this time. While a range of developments in Ovamboland contributed to the overall decline in mortality, the most important factor was the establishment, by the Finnish Mission, of a Western system of healt h care. In Ovamboland, the drive to 'good health at low cost' was articulat ed not through political institutions but through the church.