Socio-economic mortality differentials in Ireland

Abstract

Differences in mortality rates between socio-economic groups for Ireland are analysed, using the standard methodology which has been extensively applied in other countries. This involves relating data on deaths by socio-economic group, gathered at time of death, to the total population in each group as shown in the Census of Population. Based on 1981 data for men aged 15-64, significant differentials in standardised mortality rates are found between professional/managerial occupational groups and semi-skilled or unskilled manual categories. Problems which arise due to the nature of the data are discussed, drawing on British experience.