Residential segregation and Mortality Rates: A geospatial analysis of mortality rates in India

India’s caste system has long been cited as a source of inequality and spatial segregation. However, with recent changes in its economic/cultural environment it is assumed that the dominance of caste on segregation pattern... [ view full abstract ]

India’s caste system has long been cited as a source of inequality and spatial segregation. However, with recent changes in its economic/cultural environment it is assumed that the dominance of caste on segregation pattern has been replaced by socio-economic status. It is a known fact residential segregation creates conditions inimical to health and mortality. Yet no attempt has been made to explore the relationship between residential segregation and mortality inequality in India. Using data from 2011 census we calculate levels of residential segregation. Mortality rates for Indian districts are not available hence mortality estimates has been generated by fitting two dimensional flexible mortality model. The spatial analysis reveals a clear geographical patterning in the distribution of values. Analysis found that mortality rate is low for low segregated areas. It’s evident that even in 21st century residential segregation by caste is sizably larger than the level of segregation by socio-economic status.