Term: Socio-Economic Status (SES)

Glossary Definition

Last Updated: 2011-01-27

Definition:

Characteristics of economic, social and physical environments in which individuals live and work, as well as their demographic and genetic characteristics.

MCHP has used different measures of SES in its research, including: Income and Education quintiles/quartiles and Socio-Economic Risk Index (SERI) or Socio-Economic Factor Index (SEFI) scores. With income quintiles, SES is often ranked from 1 (poor) to 5 (wealthy), based on ranges of mean household income (from Statistics Canada census information), and grouped into five categories with each quintile assigned to approximately 20% of the population.

In Raymond et al. (2011), SES was measured based on out of pocket expenses for prescription medications (Manitoba has an income based deductible for the provincial Pharmacare program) and median neighbourhood income quintile (from Statistics Canada census files). Prescription drug users were divided into three groups, as follows:

• Lower income: individuals in the lowest and second lowest median neighbourhood income quintile;
  
• Higher income: individuals residing in the neighbourhoods with the three highest median neighbourhood income quintiles; and
  
• Income unknown: individuals who cannot be assigned a neighbourhood income from the census data. This category includes individuals residing in facilities such as personal care homes, psychiatric facilities, prisons, or wards of the Public Trustee and Child and Family services.

Related concepts 

• Continuing Student / Grade Repetition
• Early Development Instrument (EDI) Outcomes
• Grade 12 Language Arts (LA) Test Performance Outcomes by Socioeconomic Status (SES)
• Income Quintile Ranking Procedure
• Income Quintiles - Child Health Income Quintiles
• Socio-Economic Risk Index (SERI)
• Socioeconomic Factor Index (SEFI) - Based on the 2001 Census Data
• Socioeconomic Factor Index (SEFI) - Version 2 (SEFI-2)

Related terms 

• Blended Rate
• Education Quartiles
• Health Utility Index
• Income Adequacy Quintiles
• Income Quartiles
• Income Quintiles / Income Quintile
• Indicators of Need
• Patient Characteristics
• Physician Practice Characteristics
• Prototype Poor Health Status Index (PPHSI)
• Residential Charges
• Socio-Economic Factor Index (SEFI)
• Socio-Economic Indicators
• Socio-Economic Risk Index (SERI)
• Total Acuity by Income Status

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)
• 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)
• Finlayson G, Leslie WD, MacWilliam L. Diagnostic Imaging Data in Manitoba: Assessment and Applications. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2004. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Frohlich N, Carriere KC. Issues in Developing Indicators for Needs-Based Funding. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and Evaluation, 1997. [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)
• Mustard CA, Derksen S, Berthelot J, Wolfson MC, Roos LL, Carriere KC. Socioeconomic Gradients in Mortality and the Use of Health Care Services at Different Stages in the Life Course. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and Evaluation, 1995. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Mustard CA. The Utilization of Prenatal Care and Relationship to Birthweight Outcome in Winnipeg, 1987-88 (Report #93-01). Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and Evaluation, 1993. [Report] (View)
• Raymond C, Metge C, Alessi-Severini S, Dahl M, Schultz J, Guenette W. Pharmaceutical Use in Manitoba: Opportunities to Optimize Use. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2010. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Roos N, Burchill C, Carriere K. Who are the high hospital users? A Canadian case study. J Health Serv Res Policy 2003;8(1):5-10. [Abstract] (View)
• Roos NP, Black CD, Frohlich N, De Coster C, Cohen MM, Tataryn DJ, Mustard CA, Toll F, Carriere KC, Burchill CA. A population-based health information system. Med Care 1995;33(12 Suppl):DS13-DS20. [Abstract] (View)
• Roos NP. Establishing a population data-based policy unit. Med Care 1999;37(6 Suppl):JS15-JS26. [Abstract] (View)
• Roos NP, Black C, Roos LL, Frohlich N, De Coster C, Mustard C, Brownell MD, Shanahan M, Fergusson P, Toll F, Carriere KC, Burchill C, Fransoo R, MacWilliam L, Bogdanovic B, Friesen D. Managing health services: how the Population Health Information System (POPULIS) works for policymakers. Med Care 1999;37(6 Suppl):JS27-JS41. [Abstract] (View)

Term used in 

• Brownell M, Yogendran M. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in Manitoba children: Medical diagnosis and psychostimulant treatment rates. Can J Psychiatry 2001;46(3):264-272. [Abstract] (View)
• 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, Chartier M, Santos R, Ekuma O, Au W, Sarkar J, MacWilliam L, Burland E, Koseva I, Guenette W. How are Manitoba's Children Doing? Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2012. [Report] [Summary] [Updates and Errata] [Additional Materials] (View)
• Brownell M, De Coster C, Penfold R, Derksen S, Au W, Schultz J, Dahl M. Manitoba Child Health Atlas Update. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2008. [Report] [Summary] [Additional Materials] (View)
• Brownell M, Santos R, Kozyrskyj A, Roos N, Au W, Dik N, Chartier M, Girard D, Ekuma O, Sirski M, Tonn N, Schultz J. Next Steps in the Provincial Evaluation of the BabyFirst Program: Measuring Early Impacts on Outcomes Associated with Child Maltreatment. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2007. [Report] [Summary] (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)
• Demeter S, Reed M, Lix L, MacWilliam L, Leslie WD. Socioeconomic status and the utilization of diagnostic imaging in an urban setting. Can Med Assoc J 2005;173(10):1173-1177. [Abstract] (View)
• Doupe M, Brownell M, Kozyrskyj A, Dik N, Burchill C, Dahl M, Chateau D, De Coster C, Hinds A, Bodnarchuk J. Using Administrative Data to Develop Indicators of Quality Care in Personal Care Homes. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2006. [Report] [Summary] [Additional Materials] (View)
• Finlayson G, Smith M, Burchill C, Towns D, Peeler W, Soodeen RA, Prior H, Huq S, Guenette W. Social Housing in Manitoba. Part I: Manitoba Social Housing Data. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2013. [Report] [Summary] (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, Prior H, Chateau D, McDougall C, Schultz J, McGowan K, Soodeen R, Bailly A. Adult Obesity in Manitoba: Prevalence, Associations, and Outcomes. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2011. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Fransoo R, Ward T, Wilson E, Brownell M, Roos NP. The whole truth: Socioeconomic status and educational outcomes. Education Canada 45 (3) 2005.(View)
• Garland A, Fransoo R, Olafson K, Ramsey C, Yogendran M, Chateau D, McGowan K. The Epidemiology and Outcomes of Critical Illness in Manitoba. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2012. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Heaman M, Kingston D, Helewa M, Brownell M, Derksen S, Bogdanovic B, McGowan K, Bailly A. Perinatal Services and Outcomes in Manitoba. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2012. [Report] [Summary] [Updates and Errata] (View)
• Hilderman T, Katz A, Derksen S, McGowan K, Chateau D, Kurbis C, Allison S, Reimer JN. Manitoba Immunization Study. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2011. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Katz A, Chateau D, Bogdanovic B, Taylor C, McGowan K-L, Rajotte L, Dziadek J. Physician Integrated Network: A Second Look. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2014. [Report] [Summary] [Updates and Errata] (View)
• Katz A, Bogdanovic B, Ekuma O, Soodeen RA, Chateau D, Burnett C. Physician Resource Projection Models . Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2009. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Katz A, Martens P, Chateau D, Bogdanovic B, Koseva I, McDougall C, Boriskewich E. Understanding the Health System Use of Ambulatory Care Patients. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2013. [Report] [Summary] (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, Brownell MD, Kozyrskyj A. The virtual classroom: a summary of child health indicators. Can J Public Health 2002;93 Suppl 2(2 Suppl):77-80. [Abstract] (View)
• Menec V, Sirski M, Attawar D. Does continuity of care matter in a universally insured population? Health Serv Res 2005;40:389-400. [Abstract] (View)
• Roberts JD, Fransoo R, Black C, Roos LL, Martens PJ. Research meets reality: Administrative data to guide planning for Canadian Regional Health Authorities. Healthcare Manage Forum 2002;15(4):13-21.(View)
• Roos NP, Forget E, Walld R, MacWilliam L. Does universal comprehensive insurance encourage unnecessary use? Evidence from Manitoba says "no". Can Med Assoc J 2004;170(2):209-214. [Abstract] (View)
• Santos R, Brownell M, Ekuma O, Mayer T, Soodeen R-A. The Early Development Instrument (EDI) in Manitoba: Linking Socioeconomic Adversity and Biological Vulnerability at Birth to Children's Outcomes at Age 5. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2012. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Shapiro E, Tate RB. Assessing Quality of Care in Manitoba Personal Care Homes by Using Administrative Data to Monitor Outcomes (Report #93-02). Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and Evaluation, 1993. [Report] (View)
• Smith M, Finlayson G, Martens P, Dunn J, Prior H, Taylor C, Soodeen RA, Burchill C, Guenette W, Hinds A. Social Housing in Manitoba. Part II: Social Housing and Health in Manitoba: A First Look. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2013. [Report] [Summary] (View)