title: [The use of geographic indicators of mortality for planning health services: the experience in Great Britain].
abstract: The computation of standardized mortality ratio (SMR) is carried out at various geographical levels: by regional health authorities, district health authorities, and wards. Mortality disparities are correlated to differential living conditions. Areas showing a higher SMR are likely to be those with an under-privileged population. The relationship may be expressed graphically. On the basis of these findings, the Health Education Authority decided to implement policies aimed at: (i) decreasing cardiovascular mortality by 15 percent; (ii) decreasing the gap between under-privileged and "rich" districts by 15 percent. These objectives are expressed graphically in Fig. 4: line A must be replaced by line B. The conclusion reached is that the decrease in the mortality rate cannot be achieved by a single action on the part of health authorities, as the task of improving living conditions or modifying individual behavior patterns is beyond their reach. Nevertheless, these challenges can and should be overcome.
authors.affiliation: Inserm, CJF 88-12 Epidémiologie du Vieillissement et des Incapacités, Montpellier.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mohan
mesh_terms: D002423:Cause of Death; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005843:Geography; D006275:Health Facility Planning; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D009026:Mortality; D013222:State Medicine; D006113:United Kingdom
vernacular_title: L'utilisation des indicateurs géographiques de mortalité pour la planification des services sanitaires: l'exemple de l'Angleterre.