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Persistent clusters of mortality in the United States
Jeralynn Sittig Cossman1, Ronald E Cossman, Wesley L James
1Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work, Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA.
American Journal of Public Health
|June 1, 2007
Summary
Place significantly impacts mortality rates across the United States. High and low mortality counties share characteristics like rurality, economic decline, and younger population out-migration.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Epidemiology
- Demography
Background:
- Geographic variations in mortality rates are a persistent public health concern.
- Understanding the socioeconomic and demographic factors associated with these variations is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of geographic location on mortality patterns in the U.S. over 35 years.
- To identify common characteristics of areas with high and low mortality rates.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 35 years of U.S. county-level mortality data.
- Mapping of age-adjusted mortality rates to identify spatial and temporal clusters.
- Comparison of demographic and economic factors in high- and low-mortality counties.
Main Results:
- Persistent spatial and temporal clustering of both high and low age-adjusted county mortality rates was observed.
- Counties with high mortality rates exhibited economic decline and younger population out-migration.
- Counties with low mortality rates also showed economic decline and younger population out-migration, alongside rurality.
Conclusions:
- Place is a significant determinant of mortality, with distinct patterns of clustering.
- Shared characteristics in high- and low-mortality rural counties, including economic decline and out-migration, necessitate further research.
- Findings have implications for refining health research models and guiding health resource allocation policies.
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