Levels, trends and patterns of adult mortality in China over twenty five years
Brass, W.; Li, B.
Population Research 6(1): 1-14
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 1002-6576 PMID: 12282801 Document Number: 352408
This paper investigates the reliability of the adult mortality estimates arrived at previously for China through the use of further data and methods. The most straightforward and direct approach is through the examination of survivorship from the 1964 to 1982 censuses, which has already been done effectively. The long time span limits the extent to which the trends can be verified as opposed to the average level of mortality in the interval. The technique applied in this paper is the original version of the growth-balance method but with adjustments developed particularly for China. The growth-balance method, with adjustments when necessary, has been applied to various age specific mortality schedules, calculated from registered deaths in China. No separation by sex is made. The growth-balance was also applied to the age-specific mortality schedule and risk exposure which were the basis of the 1978 life table, which shows distinct features. In view of the tentative nature of the model and the lack of precision of the adjustment factors, the agreement between the pairs of life tables is remarkable close. The model mortality is higher than the intercensal measures at 15 to 45 years but lower at the ages above 45. There is sufficient evidence to construct a China standard life table, which could be done in several ways, such as by reference to the UN model patterns or by specifying fixed values in the 4 parameter generalizations of the logit system.