Longitudinal study of socio-economic differences in mortality among South Asian and West Indian migrants.
OBJECTIVE
To examine socio-economic differences in mortality of South Asian and West Indian migrants.


METHODS
ONS Longitudinal Study, a 1% sample of the population of England and Wales.


METHODS
First generation South Asian and West Indian migrants present at the 1971 and 1981 censuses, aged under 65 years in 1981, were classified by occupational class, access to cars, housing, and a deprivation score.


METHODS
Relative risks of mortality, 1981-1997.


RESULTS
There was considerable upward social mobility but most people remained socially stable, mainly relatively disadvantaged compared to all other study members. High levels of owner occupied housing among South Asians at both censuses were an exception. Socio-economic differentials in mortality were significant with car access in 1981 (relative risk 1.32, 95% confdence interval 1.03-1.70), and housing (rented vs owner occupied relative risk 1.50, 95% confidence interval 1.08-2.08) among South Asians and, among West Indians with car access in 1981 (relative risk 1.43, 95% confidence interval 1.05-1.94). Mortality was not significantly associated with socioeconomic circumstances in 1971.


CONCLUSIONS
The disparity between those who remained advantaged or who moved up, and those who remained persistently disadvantaged, would have been a factor underlying the stronger differentials by later socio-economic circumstances. As these migrants age an increase in health inequalities could be expected.
Harding
S
S
Centre for Public Health Monitoring, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK. seeromanie.harding@Ishtm.ac.uk
Balarajan
R
R
D000328:Adult; D001210:Asia, Southeastern / Q000208:ethnology; D019352:Censuses; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D014900:West Indies / Q000208:ethnology