Slovenian version of the european deprivation index at municipal level

• Published in: Zdravstveno varstvo 2018-06, Vol.57 (2), p.47-54
• Main Authors: Zadnik, Vesna, Guillaume, Elodie, Lokar, Katarina, Žagar, Tina, Primic Žakelj, Maja, Launoy, Guy, Launay, Ludivine
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adults; Census; Correlation analysis; Deprivation; deprivation index; Ecological monitoring; European Deprivation Index - Slovenian version; Geographical distribution; Health; Health disparities; health inequalities; kazalnik primanjkljaja; Life Sciences; Living conditions; Measuring instruments; Monitoring instruments; Municipalities; neenakosti v zdravju; Original Scientific; Santé publique et épidémiologie; slovenska verzija evropskega kazalnika primanjkljaja; socialno-ekonomske determinante; Socio-economic aspects; socioeconomic determinants; Socioeconomics
• ISSN: 0351-0026; 1854-2476; 1854-2476
• DOI: 10.2478/sjph-2018-0007

Ecological deprivation indices belong to essential instruments for monitoring and understanding health inequalities. Our aim was to develop the SI-EDI, a newly derived European Deprivation Index for Slovenia. We intend to provide researchers and policy-makers in our country with a relevant tool for measuring and reducing the socioeconomic inequalities in health, and even at a broader level. Data from the European survey on Income and Living Conditions and Slovenian national census for the year 2011 were used in the SI-EDI construction. The concept of relative deprivation was used where deprivation refers to unmet need(s), which is caused by lack of all kinds of resources, not only material. The SI-EDI was constructed for 210 Slovenian municipalities. Its geographical distribution was compared to the distribution of two existing deprivation scores previously applied in health inequality research in Slovenia. There were 36% of adults recognized as deprived in Slovenia in 2011. SI-EDI was calculated using 10 census variables that were associated with individual deprivation. A clear east-to-west gradient was detected with the most deprived municipalities in the eastern part of the country. The two existing deprivation scores correlate significantly with the SI-EDI. A new deprivation index, the SI-EDI, is grounded on the internationally established scientific concept, can be replicated over time and, crucially, provides an account of the socioeconomic and cultural particularities of the Slovenian population. The SI-EDI could be used by the stakeholders and the governmental and nongovernmental sectors in Slovenia, with the goal of better understanding health inequalities in Slovenia.