Term: Socio-Economic Factor Index (SEFI)

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Glossary Definition

Last Updated: 2016-04-14

Definition:

The SEFI is a factor score derived from Census data that reflects non-medical social determinants of health and is used as a proxy measure of socioeconomic status (SES). SEFI scores less than zero indicate more favourable socioeconomic conditions, while SEFI scores greater than zero indicate less ideal socioeconomic conditions.

NOTE: In Metge et al. (2009), a new method of calculating the SEFI was introduced and referred to as SEFI-2. In MCHP research since 2009, the term SEFI and SEFI-2 have been used interchangeably, but the methodology reflects the SEFI-2 definition.

One of the biggest changes in methodology involved the number of Census variables used in the calculation. The original SEFI uses the following six variables to calculate an overall score:

• age dependency ratio,
  
• rate of single parent households,
  
• rate of female single parent households,
  
• female labour force participation rate,
  
• unemployment rate composite, and
  
• high school education rate composite.

The SEFI-2 uses the following four variables to calculate an overall score:

• average household income,
  
• percent of single parent households,
  
• unemployment rate, and
  
• high school education rate.

The SEFI has undergone several changes since being introduced. For more detailed information please read the:

• Socioeconomic Factor Index (SEFI) - Version 2 (SEFI-2) glossary term;
  
• Socioeconomic Factor Index (SEFI) - Based on the 1986, 1991, and 1996 Census Data concept;
  
• Socioeconomic Factor Index (SEFI) - Based on the 2001 Census Data concept; and for the most recent information, the
  
• Socioeconomic Factor Index (SEFI) - Version 2 (SEFI-2) concept.

Related concepts 

• Health Indicators: Indicators of Health Status and Healthcare Use
• Ordering By Premature Mortality Rate (PMR)
• Socioeconomic Factor Index (SEFI) - Based on the 1986, 1991, and 1996 Census Data
• Socioeconomic Factor Index (SEFI) - Based on the 2001 Census Data
• Socioeconomic Factor Index (SEFI) - Version 2 (SEFI-2)

Related terms 

• Prehospital Health Status Risk Factors
• Prehospital Sociodemographic Risk Factors
• Socio-Economic Risk Index (SERI)
• Socio-Economic Status (SES)
• Socioeconomic Factor Index (SEFI) - Version 2 (SEFI-2)

References 

• Black C, Roos NP, Fransoo R, Martens PJ. Comparative Indicators of Population Health and Health Care use for Manitoba's Regional Health Authorities: A POPULIS Project. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and Evaluation, 1999. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Brownell M, Martens PJ, Kozyrskyj A, Fergusson P, Lerfald J, Mayer T, Derksen S, Friesen D. Assessing the Health of Children in Manitoba: A Population-Based Study. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and Evaluation, 2001. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Brownell M, Roos NP, Fransoo R, Guevremont A, MacWilliam L, Derksen S, Dik N, Bogdanovic B, Sirski M. How Do Educational Outcomes Vary With Socioeconomic Status? Key Findings from the Manitoba Child Health Atlas 2004. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2004. [Report] [Summary] [Additional Materials] (View)
• Brownell M, Lix L, Ekuma O, Derksen S, Dehaney S, Bond R, Fransoo R, MacWilliam L, Bodnarchuk J. Why is the Health Status of Some Manitobans Not Improving? The Widening Gap in the Health Status of Manitobans. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2003. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Bruce S, Prior H, Katz A, Taylor M, Latosinsky S, Martens P, De Coster C, Brownell M, Soodeen R, Steinbach C. Application of Patient Safety Indicators in Manitoba: A First Look. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2006. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Frohlich N, De Coster C, Dik N. Estimating Personal Care Home Bed Requirements. Manitoba Centre for Health Policy: Winnipeg, MB, 2002. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Frohlich N, Fransoo R, Roos NP. Indicators of Health Status and Health Service Use for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2001. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Frohlich N, Katz A, De Coster C, Dik N, Soodeen RA, Watson D, Bogdanovic B. Profiling Primary Care Physician Practice in Manitoba. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2006. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Metge C, Chateau D, Prior H, Soodeen R, De Coster C, Barre L. Composite Measures/Indices of Health and Health System Performance. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2009. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Roos LL, Magoon J, Gupta S, Chateau D, Veugelers PJ. Socioeconomic determinants of mortality in two Canadian provinces: multilevel modelling and neighborhood context. Soc Sci Med 2004;59(7):1435-1447. [Abstract] (View)

Term used in 

• Brownell M, Chartier M, Au W, Schultz J. Evaluation of the Healthy Baby Program. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2010. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Brownell M, Roos NP, Fransoo R, Guevremont A, Frohlich N, Kozyrskyj A, Bond R, Bodnarchuk J, Derksen S, MacWilliam L, Dahl M, Dik N, Bogdanovic B, Sirski M, Prior H. Manitoba Child Health Atlas. Winnipeg, MB: [Last update. 2004. Available from: http://www umanitoba ca/centres/mchp/reports/child_inequalities/index shtml. Accessed on: 2007 Oct 19. [Report] (View)
• Chartier M, Finlayson G, Prior H, McGowan K, Chen H, de Rocquigny J, Walld R, Gousseau M. Health and Healthcare Utilization of Francophones in Manitoba. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2012. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Doupe M, Kozyrskyj A, Soodeen R, Derksen S, Burchill C, Huq S. An Initial Analysis of Emergency Departments and Urgent Care in Winnipeg. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2008. [Report] [Summary] [Additional Materials] (View)
• Finlayson GS, Forget E, Ekuma O, Derksen S, Bond R, Martens P, De Coster C. Allocating Funds for Healthcare in Manitoba Regional Health Authorities: A First Step--Population-Based Funding. Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2007. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Fransoo R, Martens P, The Need to Know Team, Prior H, Burchill C, Koseva I, Bailly A, Allegro E. The 2013 RHA Indicators Atlas. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2013. [Report] [Summary] [Additional Materials] (View)
• Martens P, Frohlich N, Carriere K, Derksen S, Brownell M. Embedding child health within a framework of regional health: Population health status and sociodemographic indicators. Canadian Journal of Public Health 2002;93((Suppl)(2)):S15-S20. [Abstract] (View)
• Martens PJ, Derksen S, Mayer T, Walld R. Being born in Manitoba: a look at perinatal health issues. Can J Public Health 2002;93 Suppl 2(2 Suppl):S33-S38. [Abstract] (View)
• Martens PJ, Fransoo R, The Need to Know Team, Burland E, Jebamani L, Burchill C, Black C, Dik N, MacWilliam L, Derksen S, Walld R, Steinbach C, Dahl M. The Manitoba RHA Indicators Atlas: Population-Based Comparison of Health and Health Care Use. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2003. [Report] [Summary] [Additional Materials] (View)
• Roos LL, Magoon J, Gupta S, Chateau D, Veugelers PJ. Socioeconomic determinants of mortality in two Canadian provinces: multilevel modelling and neighborhood context. Soc Sci Med 2004;59(7):1435-1447. [Abstract] (View)
• Ruth C, Brownell M, Isbister J, MacWilliam L, Gammon H, Singal D, Soodeen R, McGowan K, Kulbaba C, Boriskewich E. Long-Term Outcomes Of Manitoba's Insight Mentoring Program: A Comparative Statistical Analysis . Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2015. [Report] [Summary] [Additional Materials] (View)