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FOLKEHELSE-Folkehelse

The influence of areas through the life course. A multilevel analysis of the longitudinal area effect on mortality

Awarded: NOK 1.6 mill.

Health inequality is a major public health issue even in Nordic countries with comprehensive welfare systems. Researchers have in recent years looked at determinants above the individual level that may explain such inequalities. Whatever their individual socio-economic position, people living in poor and socially disadvantaged areas, tend to have worse health experience, than those in more affluent areas. Until now, studies have investigated the effect of areas in cross-sectional data or with short follow -up using one time-point only. Area-level is an important potential target for public health interventions. But the evidence base for public health policy directed at macro-level is still rather weak with a lack of studies that follow the residential hist ory of people. Such longitudinal studies have been demanded by the international research community and by policy makers in order to provide better understanding of the underlying pathways that relate areas to social inequality in poor health. The project aims at investigating the importance of living in socially disadvantaged areas at different points in the life-course. That will be accomplished by application of new statistical tools which enables us to investigate the influence of area at different po ints in time through peoples’ life course.

Funding scheme:

FOLKEHELSE-Folkehelse