Diversity of causes of death patterns in Iran: the role of social development and employment structure

Mahmoud Ghazi-Tabatabaee, University of Tehran
Mohammad Shiri, university of tehran

This study investigates diversity in causes of death patterns and the socio- economic and employment correlates contributing to such diversity. Conceptual and analytical framework for Epidemiological transition, social epidemiology, and cultural epidemiology theories have also been utilized to direct the methodological and explanatory tasks. The study makes use of secondary data on representative samples from 250 Iranian districts that were randomly selected for the analysis using cluster and discriminant analysis techniques Results indicate that causes of death patterns are significantly different, taking the age structure and gender. In another words, districts having higher levels of social development and improved employment structure, have lower levels of mortality from infectious and parasitic diseases. Furthermore, districts having higher levels of social development and improved employment structure, are more likely to have higher levels of mortality arising from degenerative diseases including cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.