Skip the NI Direct Bar
Skip navigation

Health and Social Care Inequalities Monitoring System: A Section 75 Analysis of Mortality Patterns in Northern Ireland 2003-2007

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety today published its report “A Section 75 Analysis of Mortality Patterns in Northern Ireland 2003-2007”.
~ Thursday, 12 January 2012

This report is part of the Health and Social Care Inequalities Monitoring System (HSCIMS) and is the first in an ongoing series designed to provide robust assessments of the differences in health outcomes across the various equality groups in NI. The report concentrates on mortality and uses longitudinal data from the Northern Ireland Mortality Study. It is intended that this report will provide an important monitoring baseline which will be expanded and enhanced over time. Thus providing the Department with the support to monitor and review its progress of duties within both its public health strategies and the promotion of equal opportunity among the Section 75 groups.

Both this report and the Health and Social Care Inequalities Monitoring System reports are published on the Departmental website

Key points:

The main findings from this report can be summarised as follows:

  • Females had lower age standardised mortality rates (ASMR) than males;
  • Age and gender were the two biggest predictors for determining mortality;
  • •Apart from age, gender and limited long term illness (LLTI), social deprivation had a bigger effect on mortality and life expectancy than Section 75 characteristics;
  • Greatest differences in Section 75 characteristics are seen between those with a limiting long term illness (higher ASMR) and those without (lower ASMR);
  • Those from a Catholic community background have a slightly elevated ASMR and lower life expectancy;
  • Those that were married or co-habiting experienced lowest ASMRs and highest life expectancy.

Methodology

All analyses and calculations are based on official deaths data sourced from the Northern Ireland Mortality Study (NIMS). The NIMS dataset that was used for this report contained all deaths occurring between 2002 and 2007 except for children who were born after the 2001 Census. Other mortality records for which Census information is unavailable relate to immigrants after the 2001 Census and people who were not enumerated in the 2001 Census. The NIMS, a sister study to the Northern Ireland Longitudinal Study (NILS), is a record linkage study which links 2001 Census returns to subsequently registered mortality data. Both studies allow exploration of health and socio–demographic characteristics to provide an insight into the status of the NI population. The NILS Research Support Unit provides information, advice and support for potential academic and government research users of the NILS and NIMS databases. For further information please go to our website

It is eventually intended that a wider assessment of health outcomes for the Section 75 equality groups can be completed using more comprehensive linked data from the NI Longitudinal Study.

Notes to editors:

1. This report is part of the Health and Social Care Inequalities Monitoring System (HSCIMS) and follows on from the report “Differences in mortality rates in Northern Ireland 2002 – 2005: A Section 75 and social disadvantage perspective” which was published in October 2008.

2. All analyses and calculations are based on official deaths data sourced from the Northern Ireland Mortality Study (NIMS). The methodology used to calculate life expectancy and mortality rates is consistent with that used in the HSCIMS bulletins.

3. Additional information

Further information on the Health and Social Care inequalities Monitoring System is available from:

Project Support Analysis Branch
Information Analysis Directorate
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Annexe 2, Castle Buildings
Stormont Estate, Belfast, BT4 3SQ

Tel: 028 9052 2043
Fax: 028 9052 3288
Email: healthinequalities@dhsspsni.gov.uk
Web: http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/stats_research/stats-equality.htm

4. Press enquiries to DHSSPS press office on 028 9052 0074. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.