The mortality situation in Papua New Guinea: levels differentials patterns and trends.

Type Journal Article
Title The mortality situation in Papua New Guinea: levels differentials patterns and trends.
Author(s)
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 1986
Publisher Port Moresby Papua New Guinea National Statistical Office 1986 Mar.
URL https://www.popline.org/node/357767
Abstract
As part of the 1980 Census Research Monograph Series, this monograph deals primarily with the analysis of 1980 census data on mortality in Papua New Guinea. The rates which have been derived from data collected during the 1981 sample survey in the rural village sector also are referred to as 1980 rates. It is assumed that the mortality situation changed little between the main enumeration in 1980 and the sample survey in 1981. The 1st section of the monograph discusses levels, differentials, patterns, and trends in mortality. Only small summary tables have been included in the text. Most information is presented in pictorial form, e.g., maps, charts, and graphs. The 2nd section explains which techniques have been used to analyze the data. The final section presents abridged lifetables for Papua New Guinea and its 4 regions and 10 provinces. As anticipated, the level of infant and child mortality is generally considerably higher in the western than in the eastern part of Papua New Guinea. Infant and child mortality for male children is higher than for female children in Papua New Guinea and its 4 regions. The average life expectancy at birth (in years) has been selected as the index for classification of overall mortality. On 1st examination, it appears that the 20 provinces have been molded into an east-west framework, with increasing mortality when moving in a westward direction. Yet, on closer examination, there are notable exceptions to this observation in all 4 regions. It is possible that the considerable differences in mortality conditions are the 6 high mortality provinces indicated by the mortality indices based on 1980 census results are less pronounced in reality because fieldwork during the 1981 sample in the rural village sector in West Sepik and Southern Highlands was of a higher quality than in the other 4 provinces. There are very large differences in mortality conditions at the sub-province level and the boundaries of the "mortality regions" thus are of an artificial nature. The results reported in this monograph should be regarded as "best estimates" due to the dearth of basic data on mortality, the incompleteness and inaccuracy of a large proportion of the data available, and the extensive use of models in the analysis.