Gaining Value from The 2004 Indices of Deprivation in Lincolnshire

The following is an extract from the full report by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Visit the ODPM website website to view the entire report.

The concept of multiple deprivation

The Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004 (IMD 2004) is a measure of multiple deprivation at the small area level. The model of multiple deprivation which underpins the IMD 2004 is based on the idea of distinct dimensions of deprivation which can be recognised and measured separately. These are experienced by individuals living in an area. People may be counted in one or more of the domains, depending on the number of types of deprivation that they experience. The overall IMD is conceptualised as a weighted area level aggregation of these specific dimensions of deprivation.

Domains and indicators

The IMD 2004 contains seven Domains of deprivation: Income deprivation, Employment deprivation, Health deprivation and disability, Education, skills and training deprivation, Barriers to Housing and Services, Living environment deprivation and Crime. Each Domain contains a number of indicators. The criteria for inclusion of these indicators are that they should be 'domain specific' and appropriate for the purpose (as direct as possible measures of that form of deprivation); measuring major features of that deprivation (not conditions just experienced by a very small number of people or areas); up-to-date; capable of being updated on a regular basis; statistically robust; and available for the whole of England at a small area level in a consistent form.

Data time point, spatial scale and denominators

Where possible, the indicators relate to 2001.

The Domains, the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004 and the two supplementary Indices (Income Deprivation Affecting Children and Income Deprivation Affecting Older People) are all presented at Super Output Area (SOA) Lower Layer. Summaries of the IMD 2004 are presented at district, county and Primary Care Trust (PCT) levels.

When 2001 Census numerators were used, the denominators were also drawn from the Census. However, when non-Census numerators were used, the denominators were mainly based on the 2001 Mid-Year Estimates (MYEs).

The Domains

Income Deprivation Domain

The purpose of this Domain is to capture the proportion of the population experiencing income deprivation in an area.

Adults and children in Income Support households (2001).
Adults and children in Income Based Job Seekers Allowance households (2001).
Adults and children in Working Families Tax Credit households whose equivalised income (excluding housing benefits) is below 60% of median before housing costs(2001).
Adults and children in Disabled Person's Tax Credit households whose equivalised income (excluding housing benefits) is below 60% of median before housing costs(2001).
National Asylum Support Service supported asylum seekers in England in receipt of subsistence only and accommodation support (2002).In addition, an Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index and an Income Deprivation Affecting Older People Index were created.

Employment Deprivation Domain

This domain measures employment deprivation conceptualised as involuntary exclusion ofthe working age population from the world of work.

Unemployment claimant count (JUVOS) of women aged 18-59 and men aged 18-64averaged over 4 quarters (2001).
Incapacity Benefit claimants women aged 18-59 and men aged 18-64 (2001).
Severe Disablement Allowance claimants women aged 18-59 and men aged 18-64(2001).
Participants in New Deal for the 18-24s who are not included in the claimant count(2001).
Participants in New Deal for 25+ who are not included in the claimant count (2001).
Participants in New Deal for Lone Parents aged 18 and over (2001).

Health Deprivation and Disability Domain

This domain identifies areas with relatively high rates of people who die prematurely or whose quality of life is impaired by poor health or who are disabled, across the whole population.

Years of Potential Life Lost (1997-2001).
Comparative Illness and Disability Ratio (2001).
Measures of emergency admissions to hospital (1999-2002).
Adults under 60 suffering from mood or anxiety disorders (1997-2002).

Education, Skills and Training Deprivation Domain

This Domain captures the extent of deprivation in terms of education, skills and training in a local area. The indicators fall into two sub domains: one relating to education deprivation for children/young people in the area and one relating to lack of skills and qualifications among the working age adult population.

Sub Domain: Children/young people

Average points score of children at Key Stage 2 (2002).
Average points score of children at Key Stage 3 (2002).
Average points score of children at Key Stage 4 (2002).
Proportion of young people not staying on in school or school level education above 16(2001).
Proportion of those aged under 21 not entering Higher Education (1999-2002).
Secondary school absence rate (2001-2002).

Sub Domain: Skills

Proportions of working age adults (aged 25-54) in the area with no or low qualifications(2001).

Barriers to Housing and Services Domain

The purpose of this Domain is to measure barriers to housing and key local services. The indicators fall into two sub-domains: 'geographical barriers' and 'wider barriers' which also includes issues relating to access to housing, such as affordability.

Sub Domain: Wider Barriers

Household overcrowding (2001).
LA level percentage of households for whom a decision on their application for assistance under the homeless provisions of housing legislation has been made, assigned to SOAs (2002).
Difficulty of Access to owner-occupation (2002).

Sub Domain: Geographical Barriers

Road distance to GP premises (2003).
Road distance to a supermarket or convenience store (2002).
Road distance to a primary school (2001-2002).
Road distance to a Post Office (2003).

Crime Domain

This Domain measures the incidence of recorded crime for four major crime themes, representing the occurrence of personal and material victimisation at a small area level.

Burglary (4 recorded crime offence types, April 2002-March 2003).
Theft (5 recorded crime offence types, April 2002-March 2003, constrained to CDRPlevel).
Criminal damage (10 recorded crime offence types, April 2002-March 2003).
Violence (14 recorded crime offence types, April 2002-March 2003).

The Living Environment Deprivation Domain

This Domain focuses on deprivation with respect to the characteristics of the living environment. It comprises two sub-domains: the 'indoors' living environment which measures the quality of housing and the 'outdoors' living environment which contains two measures about air quality and road traffic accidents.

Sub-Domain: The 'indoors' living environment

Social and private housing in poor condition (2001).
Houses without central heating (2001).

Sub-Domain: The 'outdoors' living environment

Air quality (2001).
Road traffic accidents involving injury to pedestrians and cyclists (2000-2002).The methodological steps that were taken to create the IMD 2004 are described in the full report.