Convergence and divergence in regional patterns of infant mortality in the United Kingdom from 1949–51 to 1970–72

Regional and social disparities in rates of infant mortality have recently been highlighted as a major source of concern. Social class gradients in infant mortality have been shown to have been persistent over the past few decades, despite the introduction of the National Health Service. Relatively little is known, however, about the persistence or otherwise of geographical gradients in infant mortality. This paper describes the relative change in infant mortality in the United Kingdom by local authority areas between 1949–1951 and 1970–1972, using a typology of change derived from the results of a linear regression analysis. It is shown that the overall intensity of spatial inequality has changed very little over the period. At the same time, however, the relative position of some areas has deteriorated significantly, while that of others has significantly improved.