LSE/Oxfam Inequality Framework

View the indicators and measures for Domain 1: Life and health: Inequality in the capability to be alive and to live a healthy life.

Description

The life and health domain covers the capability to be alive, to enjoy longevity and to live a healthy life. Inequality measures pick-up differences in mortality risks which may result from differences in exposure to death, lifestyle factors and differences in medical treatment. Information on some causes of death which involve violations of human rights law are generally not recorded in official statistics, so guidance is given on the use of allegations data. The domain captures key health inequalities across physical and mental health outcomes including objective measures of health and individuals own subjective assessment of their health status.

Measurement considerations

Many of the inequality measures in this domain compare incidence rates between population sub-groups. For example, live births by gender, homicide rates by age group, prevalence of key diseases (such as malaria) by sex and age, rates of obesity by socio-economic group. Some measure ordinal inequality such as inequality in self-reported current health status, and some measure inequality in continuous variables such as inequality in mental health score and inequality in life expectancy.

There is generally good quality data available for the measures included in this domain. This is helped through an overlap with indicators that form part of SDG monitoring. The work of the WHO has also helped to facilitate access to good quality data on health and life inequalities.

Click on the button beside each sub-domain to see related indicators and measures. You may click on the Expand All button to view all indicators and their measures and references to any related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Sub-domains:
	Avoid premature mortality through disease, neglect, injury or suicide
Indicator: Inequality in life expectancy Measures: Live births by gender Perinatal, infant and under 5 mortality rates Reference: UN SDG: 3.2.1 Under-5 mortality rate 3.2.2 Neonatal mortality rate Inequality in age-mortality rates Period life expectancy at birth, and ages 20, 65 & 80 Indicator: Specific-cause mortality rates Measures: Mortality rates due to the top 5 communicable diseases (country specific - eg influenza, HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, hepatitis) Mortality rates due to the top 5 non-communicable diseases (country specific - eg cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, hypertension, disease related to diet and nutrition) Reference: UN SDG: 3.4.1 Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease Maternal mortality ratio - the number of maternal deaths during a year per 100,000 live births Reference: UN SDG: 3.1.1 Maternal mortality ratio Mortality rate attributed to unsafe water, unsafe sanitation and lack of hygiene Reference: UN SDG: 3.9.2 Mortality rate attributed to unsafe water, unsafe sanitation and lack of hygiene (exposure to unsafe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for All (WASH) services) Age-standardized death rate attributable to air pollution (per 100,000) Reference: UN SDG: 3.9.1 Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution Death rate due to (a) road traffic accident injuries; (b) other unintentional injuries Reference: UN SDG: 3.6.1 Death rate due to road traffic injuries 8.8.1 Frequency rates of fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries, by sex and migrant status Suicide mortality rate Reference: UN SDG: 3.4.2 Suicide mortality rate

	Be protected from being killed or murdered
Indicator: Homicide Measures: Homicide rate Reference: UN SDG: 16.1.1 Number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population, by sex and age Domestic homicide rate (with separate reporting of relationship of victim to principal suspect, including partner homicide) Racially motivated, religiously motivated and homophobic homicide

	Be protected from natural and non-natural causes of mortality
Indicator: Death from natural disasters Measures: Deaths from natural disasters - earthquakes; volcanic eruptions; flood; fire; famine; draught; hurricane (typhoon/cyclone) Reference: UN SDG: 1.5.1 Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population 11.5.1 Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population 13.1.1 Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population Indicator: Death rates from non-natural causes Measures: Deaths from non-natural causes during or following police custody Deaths in prisons: (a) from non-natural causes; (b) self-inflicted Deaths from non-natural causes for people resident in health or social care establishments Deaths from torture and political oppression (Guidance - ok to use allegations data collected by NGOs) Reference: UN SDG: 16.10.1 Number of verified cases of killing, kidnapping, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention and torture of journalists, associated media personnel, trade unionists and human rights advocates in the previous 12 months Civilian deaths as a result of war, conflict, unrest and protest (Guidance - includes disappearances - ok to use allegations data collected by NGOs) Reference: UN SDG: 16.1.2 Conflict-related deaths per 100,000 population, by sex, age and cause 16.10.1 Number of verified cases of killing, kidnapping, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention and torture of journalists, associated media personnel, trade unionists and human rights advocates in the previous 12 months

	Achieve the highest possible standard of general health
Indicator: Subjective evaluation of current health status and treatment Measures: Percentage who report poor current health status Inequality in self-reported current health status Percentage who are treated with dignity and respect in health treatment Indicator: Prevalence of key diseases associated with deprivation and low income Measures: Prevalence of new infections per 1,000 or per 100,000 uninfected population, by sex, age and key populations: (a) Number of new HIV infections per 1,000 uninfected population; (b) Tuberculosis incidence per 100,000 population; (c) Malaria incidence per 1,000 population; (d) Hepatitis B incidence per 100,000 population Reference: UN SDG: 3.3.1 Number of new HIV infections per 1,000 uninfected population, by sex, age and key populations 3.3.2 Tuberculosis incidence per 100,000 population 3.3.3 Malaria incidence per 1,000 population 3.3.4 Hepatitis B incidence per 100,000 population Percentage requiring interventions against neglected tropical diseases Reference: UN SDG: 3.3.5 Number of people requiring interventions against neglected tropical diseases Indicator: Healthy life Measures: Inequality in healthy life expectancy Prevalence of: (a) Stunting in young children; (b) undernourishment Reference: UN SDG: 2.2.1 Prevalence of stunting (height for age <-2 standard deviation from the median of the World Health Organization (WHO) Child Growth Standards) among children under 5 years of age 2.2.2 Prevalence of malnutrition (weight for height >+2 or <-2 standard deviation from the median of the WHO Child Growth Standards) among children under 5 years of age, by type (wasting and overweight) Rates of obesity/Prevalence of Type II diabetes Percentage diagnosed with eating disorders Rates of: (a) alcoholism; (b) drug addiction; (c) tobacco use Reference: UN SDG: 3.5.2 Harmful use of alcohol, defined according to the national context as alcohol per capita consumption (aged 15 years and older) within a calendar year in litres of pure alcohol 3.A.1 Age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged 15 years and older Prevalence of asthma Percentage who report participation in sport/physical activity on regular basis Indicator: Limiting illness and disability Measures: Percentage who report a long-standing health problem or disability that substantially limits their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities

	Enjoy good mental health
Indicator: Mental health Measures: Percentage who report poor mental health and well-being Inequality in mental health score

	Have good sexual and reproductive health
Indicator: Sexual and reproductive health Measures: Rates of sexually transmitted infections Percentage of women with unmet need for family planning Reference: UN SDG: 3.7.1 Proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15-49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods Percentage of women who have given birth in the last five years having delivery attended by a qualified health professional Reference: UN SDG: 3.1.2 Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel Percentage of women who have given birth in the last five years who were given the choice of where to give birth and birthing method Percentage of women in the last five years who have undergone an unofficial, unregulated abortion (age standardised rate per 1,000 women aged 15-44)