[Health transition in Spain from 1900 to 1990].

BACKGROUND

The concept of health transition is intended to define, from a plural point of view, the changes in health conditions that have contributed to a decrease in mortality associated with the demographic transition. The purpose of the study is to analyse the health transition in Spain during this century (1900-1990).

METHOD

The study of the different components of the health transition (epidemiological transition, risk transition and health care transition) has been based on historical series relating to Natural Population Changes. Annual Statistics and Housing Census Reports.

RESULTS

Overall Mortality and Child Mortality rates have tended to decrease over the entire period: overall mortality has decreased by 70%, while child mortality has dropped by 96%. Life expectancy has increased by 42 years from 1900 (35) to 1990 (77), which in relative terms represents an increase of 120%. There has been a 95% decrease in infectious disease-related deaths and a 134% increase in non-infectious disease-related deaths. It can therefore be said that the epidemiological transition in Spain concluded in the fifties with the end of the previous pattern, mainly characterised by a high mortality rate (especially with respect to children), when the main cause of death was due to infectious diseases, then giving way to a new situation in which mortality rates dropped considerably and non-infectious diseases became the main cause of death (the turning point was in 1945).

CONCLUSIONS

The new epidemiological trend that took place over the period studied appears to be the result of improved sanitary infrastructure and increased spending as well as better medical services, however also includes new health problems related to working conditions, massive urban development (particularly as of the sixties) and changes in lifestyle.