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Published in: International Journal of Public Health 1/2019

01-01-2019 | Original Article

Rural–urban inequities in deaths and cancer mortality amid rapid economic and environmental changes in China

Author: Lee Liu

Published in: International Journal of Public Health | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Objectives

This paper examines rural–urban inequities in mortality and cancer mortality amid rapid economic growth and environmental degradation in China.

Methods

SPSS and Joinpoint Regression were used to analyze the 2002–2015 datasets from all death registries in China and associated economic and environmental data.

Results

Death and cancer mortality rates among rural residents were higher and increased faster than urban residents. In particular, rural men 30–34 years old were 44% more likely to die from cancer and over 67% more likely to die from all causes, compared to their urban counterparts. Among rural women 15–19 years old, the death rate was 47% higher and the cancer mortality rate was 44% higher than among urban women. Death and cancer mortality rates tended to be positively associated with economic growth and air pollution variables.

Conclusions

Rural–urban health inequities have widened in China, with rural youth at the greatest disadvantage. The anticipated health benefits from income growth may have been offset by the impact of air pollution, which calls for further investigation into the causes of rural–urban health inequities.
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Metadata
Title
Rural–urban inequities in deaths and cancer mortality amid rapid economic and environmental changes in China
Author
Lee Liu
Publication date
01-01-2019
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
International Journal of Public Health / Issue 1/2019
Print ISSN: 1661-8556
Electronic ISSN: 1661-8564
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-018-1109-3

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