Hygiena 2007, 52(4):126-134

Socio-economic Deprivation - Theoretical Approaches and the Measuring of Socio-economic Deprivation through Indices

Hana Šlachtová, Petra Fejtková, Anna Šplíchalová, Pavla Polaufová, Hana Tomášková

Zdravotní ústav se sídlem v Ostravě, Ostrava

The results of epidemiological studies confirmed evidence in the differences in mortality of social classes or groups that reflects the concurrent effect of many factors - including the socio-economic ones. Health is affected by these factors mostly by the extent of deprivation of the specific social group - it is both material and social deprivation.
Socio-economic deprivation is measured at both levels - at the individual as well as at area level using a variety of socio-economic deprivation indices. The methodology of measurement of the socio-economic status has also been elaborated by the World Health Organization. Deprivation is thought to be one of the most substantial health determinants. Therefore the deprivation indices combine various variables that might indicate potential deprivation.
The individual context of deprivation is focused on the relationship between the individual socio-economic status (SES) and health. The area socio-economic deprivation indices are based on the confirmed relationship between health status and the level of deprivation in the population of living areas, where a population of the same social characteristics is often concentrated within a limited geographical area. Important is not only the SES of an individual, but also the socio-economical impact of the environment where the individual or community lives.
The paper brings an overview of the most frequently used deprivation indices and factors that enter into these indices.

Keywords: socio-economic status, socio-economic deprivation index, measuring SES

Published: December 2007  Show citation