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Socioeconomic Differences and Trends in the Place of Death among Elderly People in China

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  • Jiaoli Cai

    (School of Economics, Wuhan University of Technology, 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan 430070, Hubei, China
    Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Health Sciences Building, 155 College Street, Suite 425, Toronto, ON M5T 3M6, Canada)

  • Hongzhong Zhao

    (School of Economics, Wuhan University of Technology, 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan 430070, Hubei, China)

  • Peter C. Coyte

    (Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Health Sciences Building, 155 College Street, Suite 425, Toronto, ON M5T 3M6, Canada
    Canadian Centre for Health Economics, 155 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 3M6, Canada)

Abstract

China is facing a dramatic aging of its population. Little is known about the factors that influence the place of death and the trends in the place of death for elderly people in China. The purposes of this study were: (1) to examine the impact of the socioeconomic status (SES) on place of death for elderly Chinese residents; and (2) to assess temporal trends in the place of death over the last 15 years. Data were derived from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) (1998–2012). Place-of-death as an outcome was dichotomized into either death at home or death outside the home. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the impact of SES on place of death. The results showed that, of the 23,098 deaths during the study period, 87.78% occurred at home. The overall trend in home death has increased since 2005. SES was shown to be an important factor affecting place of death. The elderly with higher SES were more likely to die where health resources were concentrated, i.e., in a hospital or other type of institution. Our finding suggests that the trend towards a greater emphasis on death at home may call for the development of more supportive home care programs in China. Our finding also suggests that the socioeconomic differences in the place of death may be related to the availability of or access to health care services.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiaoli Cai & Hongzhong Zhao & Peter C. Coyte, 2017. "Socioeconomic Differences and Trends in the Place of Death among Elderly People in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-16, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:10:p:1210-:d:114607
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Yuan Liang & Yan-Hong Gong & Xiao-Piao Wen & Chao-Ping Guan & Ming-Chuan Li & Ping Yin & Zhi-Qing Wang, 2012. "Social Determinants of Health and Depression: A Preliminary Investigation from Rural China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(1), pages 1-7, January.
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    1. Francesc X. Marin-Gomez & Jacobo Mendioroz-Peña & Miguel-Angel Mayer & Leonardo Méndez-Boo & Núria Mora & Eduardo Hermosilla & Ermengol Coma & Josep-Maria Vilaseca & Angela Leis & Manolo Medina & Quer, 2022. "Comparing the Clinical Characteristics and Mortality of Residential and Non-Residential Older People with COVID-19: Retrospective Observational Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-18, January.
    2. Man Li & Renyao Zhong & Shanwen Zhu & Lauren C. Ramsay & Fen Li & Peter C. Coyte, 2018. "Access to Community Living Infrastructure and Its Impact on the Establishment of Community-Based Day Care Centres for Seniors in Rural China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-12, June.

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