Term: Disparity Rate Ratio (DRR)

Glossary Definition

Last Updated: 2010-10-21

Definition:

Disparity Rate Ratio (DRR) is one measure of a socioeconomic gap, dividing the rate of the lowest neighbourhood income group by the rate of the highest neighbourhood income group (i.e., R1/R5 or U1/U5). This is sometimes referred to in the text as the "rate ratio". There is also a statistical test for the time comparison of the DRR, measuring the change in the DRR or rate ratio from the first to the last time period. This is given as a ratio of DRRs from the last time period to the first time period. We also supply its 95% confidence interval and the p-value. DRRs can be thought of as a way to express the relative increase or decrease in inequality between the lowest and highest neighbourhood income quintile groups over time.

Related terms 

• Average Household Income (Neighbourhood Income)
• Disparity Rate Difference (DRD)
• Time Comparison of Disparity Rate Ratios (DRR)

References 

• Martens P, Brownell M, Au W, MacWiliam L, Prior H, Schultz J, Guenette W, Elliott L, Buchan S, Anderson M, Caetano P, Metge C, Santos R, Serwonka K. Health Inequities in Manitoba: Is the Socioeconomic Gap in Health Widening or Narrowing Over Time? Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2010. [Report] [Summary] [Updates and Errata] [Additional Materials] (View)