THE IMPACT OF AREA CONTEXT ON LONG-TERM ILLNESS AND PREMATURE MORTALITY - AN ILLUSTRATION OF MULTILEVEL ANALYSIS

Small area differences in rates of mortality and long term illness are studied by a multi-level technique with a view to establishing the mediating effect of area context on the health-deprivation link for the populations of small areas. In particular, the question of whether deprivation has a less important association with health in rural as against urban contexts is considered. An examination of the effects of health service provision on health outcomes farms part of the higher level contextual setting within the multi-level analysis. The importance of model specification appropriate to analysis of morbidity and mortality rates is emphasized. A case study analysis involves a contrast between wards in London and East Anglia.