Geography Of Mortality Research Articles

Spatial Inequality in Mortality in France over the Past Two Centuries

AbstractThis article analyzes the evolution of spatial inequalities in mortality across 90 French territorial units since 1806. Using a new database, we identify a period from 1881 to 1980 when inequalities rapidly shrank while life expectancy rose. This century of convergence across territories was mainly due to the fall in infant mortality. Since 1980, spatial inequalities have levelled out or occasionally widened, due mainly to differences in life expectancy among the elderly. The geography of mortality also changed radically during the century of convergence. Whereas in the 19th century high mortality occurred mainly in larger cities and along a line from North‐west to South‐east France, it is now concentrated in the North, and Paris and Lyon currently enjoy an urban advantage.

Périurbanisation et transformation du gradient de la mortalité urbaine en Suisse

Alors que les différences régionales d’espérance de vie se sont estompées en Suisse, quels sont les effets de la périurbanisation sur la géographie de la mortalité ? À partir des données de l’état civil et des recensements, on observe un accroissement des différentiels intra-urbains de mortalité depuis 1980, en particulier dans les villes les plus grandes ou qui se sont récemment étendues. Un gradient non linéaire émerge : l’espérance de vie est plus faible dans les centres-villes et les zones rurales que dans la ceinture des agglomérations urbaines. Les profils de mortalité par âge et cause suggèrent que cela tient à la fois aux styles de vie propres aux populations des centres-villes et à la concentration spatiale des groupes défavorisés. Pour la mortalité entre 20 et 64 ans, un modèle multiniveau appliqué à des données de mortalité couplées aux recensements montre que la moindre mortalité observée dans les zones périurbaines résulte de la concentration d’individus très instruits et de familles. À l’inverse, la surmortalité des 20-64 ans dans les centres-villes reflète des désavantages matériels et sociaux. Cependant, ces conséquences socioéconomiques de la périurbanisation ne suffisent pas à rendre compte du gradient de la mortalité urbaine observé chez les personnes âgées.

Peritoneal mesothelioma in Italy: Trends and geography of mortality and incidence.

Peritoneal mesothelioma, a very rare and lethal malignancy, has not been investigated as extensively as pleural mesothelioma, although the role of asbestos exposure in its occurrence is well-known. Data from Italy are relevant, as it was the largest European asbestos producer, and asbestos was widely used in many economic activities. A population-based mortality and incidence analysis was performed in Italy. Data sources were the National Multiple-causes-of-death Database (1995-2010) and the Italian Mesothelioma Register (1993-2008). We found an increasing trend of age standardized mortality rates in men, but no clear trend in women; moreover, we showed significant risks of death in several northern regions, formerly heavy asbestos users; finally, mortality/incidence ratios similar for both genders (about 0.8) were estimated. The study, based on national data, showed a higher risk of mortality from and incidence of peritoneal mesothelioma in areas with formerly heavy exposure to asbestos.

The geography of mortality in the Atlanta metropolitan area

From exploratory spatial data analyses and geographically weighted regression (GWR), we found that previously hypothesized relationships between socioeconomic status (SES), race, urbanization and mortality were present and significant in the Atlanta metropolitan area for 1995–1999 and that the relationships between these predictors and mortality varied spatially, such that distinctive geographic patterns emerged. These patterns reflect the spatial processes operating in Atlanta for the past few decades, namely, rapid residential and commercial development in the outer portions of the metropolitan area and a concurrent movement of the affluent white population away from the central city, leaving behind a predominantly African American population with low SES. We also found that the relative influence of each predictor on mortality varied spatially, with SES demonstrating the most dominant influence in the majority of the study area and race demonstrating the most dominant influence in and near the City of Atlanta.

What Impact Do Contextual Variables Have on the Changing Geography of Mortality in Italy

Using data for 94 provinces, three periods (1971–1973, 1981–1983 and 1991–1993), and for men and women, we present an interesting picture of the geography of adult and elderly mortality by cause of death in Italy. This picture brings into focus the North/South gap that has yet again emerged, this time in gender differences in mortality. Particular attention is given to mortality from those causes that would appear to depend on the geographical context and that have a greater role to play in overall mortality differences. We then define which causes of death have changed the geographic pattern in the period considered. Lastly we study the relationship between mortality by cause and socio-economic, health care, environmental, cultural, and nutritional variables.

L'inegalite geographique devant la mort en Asie du Sud, du Sud-Est et de l'Est

The geography of mortality in South, Southeast and East Asia presents considerable disparities. The range is particularly large between Japan, where life expectancy is one of the highest in the world and Afghanistan or Cambodia, where it reaches only 40 years approximately. Male overmortality varies extensively from one country to another. Male undermortality still occurs in Bhutan (1.5 years); male overmortality reaches 6.4 years in the two Koreas. As elsewhere, the difference between male and female life expectancy increases with life spans. Various levels of development of the countries under consideration (examined through three variables: income per capita, urbanization and education) do not explain spatial inequality of mortality very well. In order to understand the disparities better, the macro-approach should be supplemented by a micro-approach.

Géographie de la mortalité au Québec

The Geography of Mortality in the Province of Quebec. This paper proposes a schematic view of the spatial organization of mortality in the province of Quebec. It is based on an extended analysis of the 1974 to 1983 mortality data and several factors from the physical and the social environment. It reveals the presence of 6 binary oppositions : between the poor and the rich sectors within the main cities, between the regional capitals and their satellites, between cities engaged in mining, forestry, heavy industries... and those engaged in services, between the urban and the rural environments, between the north and the south parts of the province of Quebec and, finally, between the west and the east parts of the province.