Indices based on the notion of entropy for measuring social inequalities in health
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 14967798 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Jorge Bacallao (Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de la Habana, corresponding author), Carlos Castillo-Salgado (0000-0002-9257-9114), Michael C Schneider (0000-0001-8575-8002), Maria Cristina Schneider, Óscar J Mújica (0000-0002-2893-4206), Enrique Loyola (0000-0002-1768-3739), Manuel Vidaurre, Vidaurre Manuel |
| Year | 2002 |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Pages | 429-35 |
| Publication date | 2002-12-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1020-4989 • E-ISSN: 1680-5348 |
| Publisher | FapUNIFESP (SciELO) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1590/s1020-49892002001200008 |
| PMID | 12690729 |
| OpenAlex | W3027157414 |
| SCIELO_PID | S1020-49892002001200008 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
As described in the scientific literature, indices used to measure social inequalities in health have positive features, but they also have shortcomings, depending on how they are applied. The objective of this article is to put forward and to demonstrate, in both theoretical and practical terms, the advantages of measurements of inequality based on the notion of entropy, which is well known in physics and in information theory. The article defines and presents the main properties of indices based on the notions of entropy and redundancy. The application of the indices is illustrated with two fictitious data sets and also with real data derived from basic health indicators for the Americas, from the Pan American Health Organization. Indices based on the notion of entropy have properties that include: a) not varying with scale changes, b) being symmetrical, c) incorporating a socioeconomic dimension, and d) being easy to interpret thanks to the condition of equivalence between entropy and a system with two categories
Calculus (dental · Econometrics · Entropy (arrow of time · Generalized entropy index · Inequality · Mathematical analysis · Mathematical economics · Physics · Statistical physics · Thermodynamics · Computer Science · Global Health Care Issues · Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology · Mathematics · Medicine · Sustainable Development and Environmental Policy
| Unique citing works | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,13 |
| Citation span | 2011 - 2013 (3) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |