Multivariate Spatial Association between Mortality, Unemployment, Divorce, and Crime in Jordan-2011

Despite the wealth of research investigating the association between socioeconomic, demographic, and health indicators in the developed countries, few and inconsistent studies investigated this association at governorate level in developing countries, such as Jordan. There is abundance in socioeconomic problems in developing countries that affect long-term health conditions and could contribute to health inequalities between socioeconomic classes. This study investigates multivariate spatial association between the rates of mortality, unemployment, divorce, and crime across Jordan’s governorates. The study seeks to determine the spatial patterns of these indicators and to examine the magnitude of the differences across governorates for 2011. The study design utilizes a multivariate cross sectional spatial analysis. The data for 2011 were obtained from a survey conducted in Jordan in 2012. A visual inspection of the spatial pattern for each indicator was shown by mapping. Lee’s global and local measures for each governorate were used. A p-value was determined through Monte Carlo simulations to evaluate the statistical significance of each association in each governorate. Global and local results for each governorate were presented. No significant global spatial relationship was found. However, multiple local spatial relationships between the indicators under investigation were found significant in several western governorates. These conclusions allow identifying the disadvantaged governorates and help social and public health authorities set up plans. Efforts should, therefore, be made in the disadvantaged governorates to create awareness about the necessity of early discovery and treatment. The authors suggest that further studies are needed in these spatial relationships.