AUSTRALIAN TRENDS IN MORTALITY BY SOCIOECONOMIC-STATUS USING NSW SMALL-AREA DATA, 1970-89

This ecological study examines trends in socioeconomic differentials i n mortality in New South Wales, Australia, over a 20-year period (1970 -89). The proportion unskilled was used as the indicator of socioecono mic status and its selection justified. Using census data aggregated b y Local Government Area, the relationship between mortality and socioe conomic status was examined using quintiles based on the proportion un skilled in the population. Local Government Areas were also sorted int o quintiles using mortality rates (0-74 years) to describe change in m ortality differentials over time. Socioeconomic differentials were mor e evident in the relatively homogeneous Local Government Areas within the Sydney Statistical Division than in the remaining NSW Statistical Divisions which are more heterogeneous and predominantly rural. Althou gh there has been an overall decline in mortality for males and female s, and for high and low status groups, over this period the relative s ocioeconomic differentials have not declined. For the most recent peri od (1985-89) there appears to be some widening of differentials for ma les. The NSW state trends are generally similar to those reported for Britain and for other industrialised countries, suggesting that this i s a common trend and that policies to reduce inequalities have not bee n effective.