A study of mortality and morbidity of males 15-64 years in England and Wales in the 1970s

Abstract

The thesis is primarily a study of the mortality and morbidity in the 1970s of males 15-64 years in England and Wales, and incidentally, is also a study of the inadequacies and shortcomings of measures of mortality and morbidity. No hypotheses are tested; it is a descriptive study using secondary sources. The mortality and morbidity of males of working age has implications for the state in respect of expenditure on healthcare, social security cash payments, and other welfare benefits and for society in respect of loss of production. However, as discussed in the first three chapters, attempts at measuring mortality and morbidity are beset with many problems. Mortality is a definite event which can be measured, thus the major problems are the different types of measures available, and the accuracy of recording of causes of death. In contrast, morbidity is partly a subjective experience, lasting over a period of time and consequently is much more difficult to quantify. The advantages and disadvantages of various sources of mortality and morbidity data are discussed. The second part of the study uses published data to examine patterns of mortality and morbidity of males 15-64 years in the 1970s. This involves an examination of causes by disease categories and an analysis of deaths and illness by sex, age, social class, occupation, marital status and region. In the final chapters the major causes of death are examined in relation to use of hospital beds and general medical practitioner services. The possibility of prevention is considered and speculations are made as to the implications of this.