49. Health inequality*
(a) Infant mortality:
differences between socio-economic groups, 1994-6 to 2004-6
(i) England and Wales
(ii) Scotland
(iii) Northern Ireland
(b) Life expectancy:
differences in average life expectancy between local authority areas,
2004-6
(c) Life expectancy:
differences in average life expectancy between deprived areas in England
and the national average, 1991-3 to 2004-6
| Infant mortality differences since: |
1994 |
|
1999 |
|
| Life expectancy differences since: |
1991 |
|
1999 |
|
- Although infant mortality rates have fallen for all socio-economic groups in England and Wales, the difference between those socio-economic groups with the lowest and highest rates has widened. In England and Wales in 1994-6, there were 3.3 more infant deaths per 1,000 live births for those in semi-routine occupations than for those who were large employers or higher managerial. In 2004-6 the difference was 3.9 infant deaths per 1000 live births, although the difference had narrowed slightly since the previous year.
- In Scotland, overall infant mortality rates have declined slightly since 1996-8. Tthe difference between socio-economic groups with the highest and lowest rates has fallen too. In 2004-6 there were 2.7 more infant deaths per 1,000 live births for those in semi-routine occupations compared with higher professional occupations.
- In Northern Ireland the overall infant mortality rate fell between 1994-6 and 2004-6. During this period, the difference narrowed between those with the highest rate, in routine occupations, and those with the lowest, higher managerial or professional.
- Average life expectancy can be estimated for each local authority area. Comparing across the UK, overall average life expectancies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are broadly similar, but the average is lower in Scotland.
- Although overall average life expectancy has increased, the differences in average expected years of life between local authorities with the highest and lowest averages have widened.
- In 1991-3 (not shown) the difference in average life expectancy for men between local authority areas in the UK with the highest and lowest average life expectancy was 9.7 years. This widened to 12.6 years in 2004-6. For women the difference was 7.5 years in 1991-3 and widened to 10.2 years in 2004-6.
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