Work

Decennial Ward‐Level Influence of Demographic, Farming, and Economic Predictors on All‐Cause Mortality

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: This study has arisen in response to a lack of studies examining how farming affects mortality patterns across areas of Northern Ireland (NI) over a 10-year period. This paper aims to investigate whether agriculturally intensive electoral Wards have higher mortality rates compared to non-agriculturally based Wards, controlling for relevant factors. METHODS: The population census and farm census information was downloaded from the Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Service (NINIS) website to construct two original mortality-based datasets. Linear regression was used for the analysis. DESIGN: Decennial Ward-Level Influence of Demographic, Farming, and Economic Predictors on All-Cause Mortality. SETTING: Five hundred and eighty-two Ward areas of Northern Ireland. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Mortality risk within Ward areas. RESULTS: Findings showed larger amounts of natural log of the population, 65 to 100+ year-olds, limiting long-term illnesses, Farming Intensity Scores, residents living alone and full-time workers within Wards were predictive of mortality risk within those Wards. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first of its kind in NI to provide evidence for Farming Intensity Scores explaining the variation of mortality rates between areas, in addition to many of the usual predictors.

Source: Australian Journal of Rural Health

DOI: 10.1111/ajr.70016

Authors: Kelly Trearty, Brendan Bunting, John Mallett

Institution: Ulster University, Derry-Londonderry Campus

Language: English

Topic: Agriculture and Farm Safety

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: Zero hunger, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,570