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DIFFERENCES IN LIFE EXPECTANCY: SOCIAL FACTORS IN MORTALITY RATES
Author(s) -
Taylor R.,
Quine S.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
australian journal on ageing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.63
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1741-6612
pISSN - 0726-4240
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-6612.1992.tb00532.x
Subject(s) - life expectancy , socioeconomic status , survivorship curve , context (archaeology) , intervention (counseling) , mortality rate , psychology , demography , gerontology , demographic economics , sociology , geography , medicine , economics , population , archaeology , psychiatry
This paper addresses the question of the relation of social and economic differentials to mortality in Australia. It will begin with a short discussion of definition and measurement of the two major domains for investigation: (a) mortality, often also expressed in a positive way as survivorship and expectation of life; and (b) social and economic factors, which are much more difficult to characterise and quantify, and extend into considerations of culture. The paper will then address the methods which can be used to relate socioeconomic status (SES) to mortality in the context of the Australian mortality decline, and the dependence of study types on data availability. A review of published studies on SES differentials in mortality in Australia will then follow, and generalised conclusions will be drawn from available information. Proposed explanations for social differentials in mortality will be explored. Important gaps in information will be described and further questions posed, and some current research in progress will also be described. Approaches to narrowing SES differentials in mortality in Australia will be outlined. These approaches will cover health service and behavioural intervention, and social and economic intervention. An integration of these approaches will be described.