title: Inequalities in mortality by socioeconomic factors and Roma ethnicity in the two biggest cities in Slovakia: a multilevel analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The socioeconomic and ethnic composition of urban neighbourhoods may affect mortality, but evidence on Central European cities is lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the associations between socioeconomic and ethnic neighbourhood indicators and the mortality of individuals aged 20-64 years old in the two biggest cities of the Slovak Republic.
  
  
  METHODS
  We obtained data on the characteristics of neighbourhoods and districts (educational level, unemployment, income and share of Roma) and on individual mortality of residents aged 20-64 years old, for the two largest cities in the Slovak Republic (Bratislava and Kosice) in the period 2003-2005. We performed multilevel Poisson regression analyses adjusted for age and gender on the individual (mortality), neighbourhood (education level and share of Roma in population) and district levels (unemployment and income).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportions of Roma and of low-educated residents were associated with mortality at the neighbourhood level in both cities. Mutually adjusted, only the association with the proportion of Roma remained in the model (risk ratio 1.02; 95 % confidence interval 1.01-1.04). The area indicators - high education, income and unemployment - were not associated with mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proportion of Roma is associated with early mortality in the two biggest cities in the Slovak Republic.
authors.affiliation: Kosice Self-governing Region, Department of Regional Development, Land-use Planning and Environment, Nam. Maratonu mieru 1, 042 66, Kosice, Slovakia. Katarina.Rosicova@vucke.sk.|Graduate School Kosice Institute for Society and Health, Safarik University, Kosice, Slovakia. Katarina.Rosicova@vucke.sk.|Institute of Public Health - Department of Health Psychology, Medical Faculty, Safarik University, Kosice, Slovakia. Katarina.Rosicova@vucke.sk.
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rosicova
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Occupational Health, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. s.a.reijneveld@umcg.nl.
authors.forename: Sijmen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Reijneveld
authors.affiliation: Graduate School Kosice Institute for Society and Health, Safarik University, Kosice, Slovakia. geckova@upjs.sk.|Institute of Public Health - Department of Health Psychology, Medical Faculty, Safarik University, Kosice, Slovakia. geckova@upjs.sk.|Olomouc University Society and Health Institute, Palacky University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic. geckova@upjs.sk.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Madarasova Geckova
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Occupational Health, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. r.e.stewart@umcg.nl.
authors.forename: Roy E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, University of Presov, Presov, Slovakia. martinrosic@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosic
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Occupational Health, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. j.w.groothoff@umcg.nl.
authors.forename: Johan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Groothoff
authors.affiliation: Graduate School Kosice Institute for Society and Health, Safarik University, Kosice, Slovakia. J.P.van.Dijk@umcg.nl.|Department of Community and Occupational Health, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. J.P.van.Dijk@umcg.nl.|Olomouc University Society and Health Institute, Palacky University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic. J.P.van.Dijk@umcg.nl.
authors.forename: Jitse P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: van Dijk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002947:Cities / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality / Q000208:ethnology*; D055361:Multilevel Analysis; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D006178:Romani People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018154:Slovakia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors