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On the use of socioeconomic status indicators in the analysis of health inequalities and poverty in Africa
Author(s) -
Ichoku Hyacinth Eme
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of international development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.533
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1099-1328
pISSN - 0954-1748
DOI - 10.1002/jid.1697
Subject(s) - socioeconomic status , poverty , inequality , development economics , health equity , socioeconomics , economics , environmental health , economic growth , health care , medicine , mathematics , mathematical analysis , population
Several indicators of socioeconomic status have been applied by researchers in the analysis of inequalities and poverty in Africa. Inconsistent results from these applications raise concerns about their appropriateness in ranking households and communities in African contexts. This paper reviews the epistemological assumptions underlying those indicators and shows why they may not be fitted to the African social conditions. It suggests a hermeneutical approach based on community self knowledge that facilitates the social ranking of households and individuals on the basis of how they are inserted into the social power relations that determine their socioeconomic status. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.