Mapping social quality using geographical information system and developing health equity policy between communities: Results of the nationally survey of South Korea

Since 2000, European scholars have discussed what kind of social components are required in order to move from growth-oriented to quality-oriented society. The concept of social quality (SQ) was drawn from this process; it assumes that individuals have sufficient life chances to show one's potentiality in the mature community with high SQ composed of social security, cohesion, inclusion, and empowerment. This approach provides a singular chance to explore the social determinants of health in the macro-level surroundings. This study mapped disparities of SQ using geographical information system as well as measured them with expanded indicators among the 230 communities of South Korea. We also elucidated the social determinants to reduce health inequality between communities. Study design is an ecological context study; the dataset was 79 ecological indicators that have been collected from 17 public institutions during 2006-2010. Nineteen indicators clustered into seven different domains were selected as final variables from data reduction and analytic hierarchy process. We mapped total SQ indicator as a type of standardized quintile after transforming it with the equation of the European Social Survey. The determinants of SQ disparities were found using multiple regression and multidimensional analysis. As a result, the higher the rate of financial independence, the higher the SQ among metropolis. The higher the degree of cohesion, the higher the SQ among rural areas. Similarly, major health indicators showed highly significant correlations with the SQ score. We should consider a way to build adequate community capacity in order to achieve health equity among neighborhoods.