title: Socio-economic gradients in self-reported health in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research and policy related to reducing health inequalities has progressed separately within Ireland and Northern Ireland. This paper describes the first exploration of the socio-economic influences on health on the island of Ireland since 1922.
  
  
  METHODS
  Postal survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 52%; 11,870 respondents. Men reported more long-standing illness (LLTI) or poor general health (PGH); depression was more common amongst women. Socio-economic gradients in health were evident in both jurisdictions, with the effects of household income being particularly marked. Overall, morbidity levels were significantly better in Ireland than in Northern Ireland: adjusted odds ratio of 0.79 (95% CI 0.71 - 0.88) for LLTI; 0.64 (0.57 - 0.72) for PGH; 0.90 (0.82 - 0.99) for depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is evidence of strong and similar socio-economic gradients in health throughout the island of Ireland. This would suggest joint policy approaches or at least further comparative evaluation of the initiatives in each jurisdiction.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Epidemiology and Public Health, Queen's University, Belfast. d.oreilly@qub.ac.uk
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bury
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gilliland
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: O'Dowd
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Steele
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009660:Northern Ireland; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors