Abstract

In Sydney in 1971 low socioeconomic status was found to be associated with high mortality and this became more marked with increasing age; it was not statistically significant in relation to infant mortality. Mortality was higher among those born in Australia than among immigrants. A more varied pattern in the differences in cause specific death rates was noted in those born in Australia compared with those born overseas. Socioeconomic status was characterised by an area-type index applied to the results of 1971 census and calculated for local government areas in the Sydney Statistical Division.