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Unravelling urban-rural health disparities in England

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REBECCA_ALLAN_Paper_16_01_2017_V2.pdf (1.284Mb)
Date
11/2017
Author
Allan, Rebecca
Williamson, Paul
Kulu, Hill
Keywords
England
Health
Logistic regression
Population census
Rural
Urban
GF Human ecology. Anthropogeography
H Social Sciences
3rd-DAS
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Abstract
Previous research shows significant health and mortality variations by residential context. Numerous studies report better health and lower mortality among rural populations in comparison to urban residents, whereas other research shows the opposite, with poor health and high mortality in rural areas. This study investigates health variations in England by residential contexts and the causes of such differences. Further, it examines the sensitivity of results to different rural-urban classifications. Applying logistic regression models to individual-level data from the 2001 UK census we demonstrate significant health variation by residential context. A clear urban-rural positive health gradient is apparent, with levels of ill health increasing parallel to levels of urbanisation. Briefly, people living in rural areas have better health than those living in cities and other urban contexts. However, the capital city (London) provides an exception to the gradient, with its inhabitants having better health than anticipated. Once we control for individual socio-demographic characteristics, including occupational status and educational level, the urban-rural health variations are reduced, but significant differences still persist. Most notably, Outer London residents have health expectations similar to those residing in the most rural locations. Clearly, our results support the existence of a positive urban-rural health gradient, with the exception of a protective "capital city" effect. These findings persist regardless of the precise urban-rural classification used. Finally we show that, having accounted for composition and the rural-urban context, there still remains a North-South divide in health outcomes.
Citation
Allan , R , Williamson , P & Kulu , H 2017 , ' Unravelling urban-rural health disparities in England ' , Population, Space and Place , vol. 23 , no. 8 , e2073 . https://doi.org/10.1002/psp.2073
Publication
Population, Space and Place
Status
Peer reviewed
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/psp.2073
ISSN
1544-8444
Type
Journal article
Rights
Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. This work has been made available online in accordance with the publisher’s policies. This is the author created, accepted version manuscript following peer review and may differ slightly from the final published version. The final published version of this work is available at https://doi.org/10.1002/psp.2073
Description
Rebecca Allan's research was supported by the Economic and Social Research Council (PhD project: “Residential Context, Health and Mortality: The Effect of Context, Composition or Selective Migrations?”).
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  • University of St Andrews Research
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10023/17659

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