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“Geography of suicide in Hong Kong: Spatial patterning, and socioeconomic correlates and inequalities”

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  • Hsu, Chia-Yueh
  • Chang, Shu-Sen
  • Lee, Esther S.T.
  • Yip, Paul S.F.

Abstract

Past urban research on Western nations tends to show high suicide rates in inner city and socioeconomically deprived areas. However, little is known about geographic variations in suicide in non-Western cities. We used Bayesian hierarchical models to estimate smoothed standardised mortality ratios (2005–2010) for suicide in people aged 10 years or above in each geographic unit in Hong Kong at two levels, i.e. large street block (n = 1639; median population = 1860) and small tertiary planning unit group (n = 204; median population = 14,850). We further analysed their associations with a range of area socioeconomic characteristics and a deprivation index. The “city centre” of Hong Kong, a generally non-deprived area, showed mostly below average suicide rates. However, there were high rates concentrating in some socioeconomically deprived, densely populated areas, including some inner city areas, across the city. Males had greater geographic variations in rates than females, except the elderly group. The use of smaller geographic units revealed finer detailed suicide distribution than the use of larger units, and showed that suicide rates were associated with indicators of socioeconomic deprivation (population with non-professional jobs and low median household income), and social fragmentation (proportions of unmarried adults and divorced/separated adults), but not with Gini coefficient. Sex/age groups had different associations with suicide rates. Areas in the most deprived quintile had a suicide rate more than two times higher than the least deprived. The association between suicide and deprivation was stronger in males than females and more marked in the younger populations compared to the elderly. The spatial distribution of suicide in Hong Kong showed distinct patterning and a stronger association with income compared to findings from Western countries. Suicide prevention strategies should consider tackling the marked socioeconomic gradient in suicide and high risk in young and middle-aged males living in deprived areas.

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  • Hsu, Chia-Yueh & Chang, Shu-Sen & Lee, Esther S.T. & Yip, Paul S.F., 2015. "“Geography of suicide in Hong Kong: Spatial patterning, and socioeconomic correlates and inequalities”," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 190-203.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:130:y:2015:i:c:p:190-203
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.02.019
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    Cited by:

    1. Ruth Benson & Jan Rigby & Christopher Brunsdon & Grace Cully & Lay San Too & Ella Arensman, 2022. "Quantitative Methods to Detect Suicide and Self-Harm Clusters: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-13, April.
    2. Jaesang Sung & Qihua Qiu & Will Davis & Rusty Tchernis, 2022. "Design and Application of an Area-Level Suicide Risk Index with Spatial Correlation," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 161(1), pages 77-104, May.
    3. Kate Mobley & Gita Taasoobshirazi, 2022. "Predicting Suicide in Counties: Creating a Quantitative Measure of Suicide Risk," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-14, July.
    4. Lin, Chien-Yu & Hsu, Chia-Yueh & Gunnell, David & Chen, Ying-Yeh & Chang, Shu-Sen, 2019. "Spatial patterning, correlates, and inequality in suicide across 432 neighborhoods in Taipei City, Taiwan," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 222(C), pages 20-34.
    5. Yingqi Guo & Shu-Sen Chang & Mengni Chen & Paul S. F. Yip, 2018. "Do Poorer Areas Have Poorer Access to Services in Hong Kong? A Small-Area Analysis Based on Multiple Spatial Accessibility Indicators," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 138(1), pages 1-21, July.
    6. Rath, Abigail A. & Lau, Eric HY. & Schooling, C Mary, 2022. "The impact of the minimum wage on suicide rates in Hong Kong," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 314(C).
    7. Chia-Yueh Hsu & Shu-Sen Chang & Paul Yip, 2017. "Individual-, household- and neighbourhood-level characteristics associated with life satisfaction: A multilevel analysis of a population-based sample from Hong Kong," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 54(16), pages 3700-3717, December.
    8. Mathew Y. H. Wong & Stan Hok-Wui Wong, 2022. "Income Inequality and Political Participation: A District-Level Analysis of Hong Kong Elections," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 162(3), pages 959-977, August.
    9. Miriam Marco & Antonio López-Quílez & David Conesa & Enrique Gracia & Marisol Lila, 2017. "Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Suicide-Related Emergency Calls," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-13, July.
    10. Nikolaos Antonakakis & Rangan Gupta, 2017. "Is Economic Policy Uncertainty Related to Suicide Rates? Evidence from the United States," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 133(2), pages 543-560, September.
    11. Yeung, Cheuk Yui & Men, Yu Vera & Caine, Eric D. & Yip, Paul Siu Fai, 2022. "The differential impacts of social deprivation and social fragmentation on suicides: A lesson from Hong Kong," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 315(C).
    12. Jens Kandt & Shu-Sen Chang & Paul Yip & Ricky Burdett, 2017. "The spatial pattern of premature mortality in Hong Kong: How does it relate to public housing?," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 54(5), pages 1211-1234, April.

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