title: A multilevel analysis of the effects of neighbourhood income inequality on individual self-rated health in Hong Kong.
abstract: We examined the effect on self-rated health of neighbourhood-level income inequality in Hong Kong, which has a high and growing Gini coefficient. Data were derived from two population household surveys in 2002 and 2005 of 25,623 and 24,610 non-institutional residents aged 15 or over. We estimated neighbourhood-level Gini coefficients in each of 287 Government Planning Department Tertiary Planning Units. We used multilevel regression analysis to assess the association of neighbourhood income inequality with individual self-perceived health status. After adjustment for both individual- and household-level predictors, there was no association between neighbourhood income inequality, median household income or household-level income and self-rated health. We tested for but did not find any statistical interaction between these three income-related exposures. These findings suggest that neighbourhood income inequality is not an important predictor of individual health status in Hong Kong.
authors.affiliation: The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China. irenewong@hkusua.hku.hk
authors.forename: Irene O L
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Cowling
authors.forename: Su-Vui
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Gabriel M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Leung
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000145:classification*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000145:classification* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012649:Self Concept; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014504:Urban Health / Q000145:classification* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult