Grim up North or Northern Grit? Recessions and the English spatial health divide (1991-2010)

Copeland, A.; Kasim, A.; Bambra, C.

Abstract

Background Previous research suggests that the health effects of recessions are mixed and vary spatially between countries. Using the North-South English health divide as an example, this paper examines whether there are also spatial variations within countries. Methods Cross-sectional data on self-reported ‘not good health’ was obtained from the British Household Panel Survey and the Health Survey for England from 1991 to 2010. Age-adjusted generalized linear models were used to examine the effects of recessions (1990/91 and 2008/09) on self-reported health in the four English NHS Commissioning Regions (North, South, Midlands and London) with stratification by gender. Results Over the 20-year study period, the North had consistently higher rates of ‘not good health’ than the South [OR 1.50 (1.46–1.55) outside recessions and OR 1.29 (1.19–1.39) during recessions]. However, during periods of recession, this health divide narrowed slightly with a 2% decrease in the prevalence of ‘not good health’ in the North [OR 0.91 (0.86, 0.96)]. Conclusion This study is evidence of spatial variations in the health effects of recessions within England and the North-South divide appears to slightly reduce during recessions. Health in the North remains worse than the South.

Citation

Copeland, A., Kasim, A., & Bambra, C. (2015). Grim up North or Northern Grit? Recessions and the English spatial health divide (1991-2010). Journal of Public Health, 37(1), 34-39. https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdu019

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Mar 18, 2014
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2015
• Deposit Date: May 15, 2014
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 20, 2014
• Journal: Journal of Public Health
• Print ISSN: 1741-3842
• Electronic ISSN: 1741-3850
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 37
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 34-39
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdu019
• Keywords: Economics, North South divide, Public health, Recessions, Social determinants.
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1455086