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Abstract
An association between health and socio-economic status is well known. Based on international
and national studies, the aims of this study were to develop a multi-dimensional index
at the municipality level, to provide information about socio-economic deprivation
in Hungary and to investigate the association between socio-economic status and the
spatial distribution of premature mortality due to diseases of the circulatory system.
Seven municipality level socio-economic indicators were used from the National Information
System of Spatial Development (income, low qualification, unemployment, one-parent
families, large families, density of housing and car ownership). After normalisation
and standardisation, indicator weights were evaluated using factor analysis. A risk
analysis study was conducted using the Rapid Inquiry Facility software to evaluate
the association between deprivation and the spatial distribution of premature mortality
due to diseases of the circulatory system for the years 1998-2004. Areas of significantly
high deprivation were identified in the northeastern, eastern and southwestern parts
of Hungary. A statistically significant association was found between premature cardiovascular
mortality and deprivation status in both genders. The Deprivation Index is the first
composite index at the municipality level in Hungary and includes key factors that
affect socio-economic status. The identified association highlighted the fact that
inequalities in socio-economic status may reflect the spatial distribution of health
status in a population. The results can be used to inform prevention strategies and
help plan local health promotion programs aimed at reducing health inequalities.
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