[The relationship between regional material deprivation and the standardized mortality ratio of the community residents aged 15-64 in Korea].
OBJECTIVE
This study was performed to investigate the relationship between regional material deprivation and the standardized mortality ratios(SMRs) of community residents aged 15-64 in Korea.


METHODS
SMRs were investigated using the registered death data from 1995 to 2000 that was obtained from the Korean National Statistics Office with the denominators being drawn from the 1995 to 2000 census. Material deprivation was measured using the Townsend score that was calculated from the 1995 to 2000 census. The relationship between the regional material deprivation and the SMRs of the community residents aged 15-64 was investigated by using ANOVA, Spearman's rank correlation analysis and Pearson's correlation analysis. The trends in mortality inequality were investigated using the concentration index.


RESULTS
On the ANOVA, the SMRs of the men and women residents in the least deprived areas were the smallest and those in the most deprived areas were the largest. Spearman's rank correlation analysis, Pearson's correlation analysis and the concentration index revealed that significant positive relationships exist between the regional material deprivation and the SMRs of the community residents aged 15-64.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that there are mortality inequalities among the communities in Korea and part of this difference is due to the material deprivation of the community. Strategies aimed at reducing mortality inequalities among the communities will be needed to address economic inequalities. Further studies are needed to explore the mechanisms of how the regional deprivation influences on health and how the other factors of the community influence on the health of the community residents.
Jeong
Baek-Geun
BG
Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University.
Jung
Kap-Yeol
KY
Kim
Joon-Youn
JY
Moon
Ok-Ryun
OR
Lee
Yong-Hwan
YH
Hong
Young-Seoub
YS
Yoon
Tae-Ho
TH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006295:Health Resources / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D012042:Registries; D012111:Residence Characteristics