Using Shatin as the reference district, district variations in different components of lifestyle are observed, but do not fall into any consistent 'healthy' or 'unhealthy' pattern.
Fig 6 shows that district variations directly affect self-rated physical health, and also exert an effect through socioeconomic position as well as lifestyle factors.
District variations directly affect self-rated physical health, and also exert an effect through socioeconomic position as well as lifestyle factors.
We conclude that district variations in health outcomes exist in the Hong Kong elderly population, and these variations result directly from district factors, and are also indirectly mediated through socioeconomic position as well as lifestyle.
District variations in all four outcomes were observed, but again the variations do not fall into any consistent pattern representing areas with poor or good outcomes among all the health indicators measured (Fig 2, Fig 3, Fig 4, Fig 5).
While there are minor district variations in the provision of health services in terms of number of doctors and hospital beds, there is no restriction of access between districts, such that patients may choose to attend whichever health facilities outside their district of residence for shorter waiting times.
Inspite of the limitations, we can conclude that district variations in health outcomes exist in the elderly population, and these variations result directly from district factors (yet to be determined) and also indirectly mediated through socioeconomic position as well as lifestyle.
There were also considerable district variations in the allocation of health resources.
Spatial analyses are important for policy intervention at the district level as it explains intra-district variation more appropriately than by individual-, maternal-, or household-level factors.
