Material and Social Deprivation Index

The Material and Social Deprivation Index (MSDI) was created at the end of the 1990 with the aim of measuring deprivation among Quebecers and Canadians at the small-area level.^1,2 The MSDI consists of specific socioeconomic characteristics of the population living in a small area. It has often been used as a proxy (substitute) for lacking information on socioeconomic status of individuals in administrative databases. The index facilitates the documentation and identification of the presence of inequalities in health and health system use associated with inequality in access to material and social resources. In a larger perspective, the MSDI has been used for decision-making and public resource allocation in regions and local communities.

Objective

The MSDI has the aim of characterizing and highlighting the deprivation at the small area level. This information is useful for regional resource planning in the health and social services system. More specifically, the MSDI can be used for research on social inequalities in health, monitoring of their evolution, the elaboration of public policies and programs, for resource allocation and the evaluation of services.

Structure

The MSDI is composed of two dimensions. The material deprivation involves deprivation of the goods and conveniences that are part of modern life, such as adequate housing, possession of a car, access to high speed internet, or a neighbourhood with recreational areas. This deprivation marks the consequences of lack of material resources associated with low education, insecure job situation and insufficient income. Social deprivation refers to a fragile social network, starting with the family and encompassing the community. It is characterized by individuals living alone, being a lone parent and being separated, divorced or widowed. The MSDI groups six indicators chosen for their relationship with health and either one of the two forms of deprivation.^3,4,5

Using the MSDI

The table below contains the different Census years (1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021). Click on a version to download all files needed to use the MSDI.

For a better understanding and use of the MSDI, please refer to The Material and Social Deprivation index 2021 or refer to one of the methodological documents.

To consult maps of the deprivation index, please refer to the Géoportail de santé publique du Québec (in french only).

To download data in shapefile format for mapping, please refer to Données Québec web site (in french only).

For a list of papers having used the MSDI, published outside of INSPQ, view our list of papers.

If you have comments or questions about the MSDI or if you would like to be added to our mailing list with updates on the MSDI, please send us a short email ([email protected]) with the subject « Material and social deprivation index ». You can also proceed in this way if you have published a paper, report, or thesis or any work you do with the MSDI and would like us to add it to our list of papers.

Support, data or additional information can be requested by completing our online form.

How to cite the index : Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ). Index of material and social deprivation compiled by the Bureau d'information et d'études en santé des populations (BIESP) from 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021 Canadian Census data. [https://www.inspq.qc.ca/en/deprivation/material-and-social-deprivation-index]

Methodological documents

For a better understanding and use of the different versions of the IDMS, consult the following documents:

M. Azevedo Da Silva, N. Gravel, J. Sylvain-Morneau et al. 2024. Material and social deprivation index 2021.

This document covers indices from 1991 to 2021. It is an update of Gamache, P., Hamel, D., and Blaser, C. (2019). L’indice de défavorisation matérielle et sociale : en bref (only available in french). It presents the construction of the disadvantage index, its different versions produced based on censuses and various geographic divisions, and their uses.

Gamache, P., D. Hamel, et C. Blaser 2019. L’indice de défavorisation matérielle et sociale : en bref (only available in French).

This document covers the indices from 1991 to 2016. It describes the construction and composition of the deprivation index, the geographical scales of application, and ways of combining the material and social dimensions. It addresses the methodological particularities of the 2011 index, which is based on the National Household Survey (NHS) rather than the Canadian census. One section is devoted to the use of the index and related products, accompanied by a bilingual bibliography illustrating its interpretation in INSPQ research.

Gamache, P. and Hamel, D. 2017. The Challenges of Updating the Deprivation Index with Data from the 2011 Census and the National Household Survey (NHS) 

This document presents the challenges involved in updating the deprivation index using data from the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS), which replaced the long-form census that year. The authors highlight the non-response bias that may affect the accuracy of the results. Four versions of the index were tested to assess their quality and comparability. The uncorrected version, which produced results similar to the others, was selected to ensure continuity with previous indices.

Pampalon, R., Gamache, P. and Hamel, D. 2011. The Québec Index of Material and Social Deprivation: Methodological Follow-up, 1991 through 2006

This fact sheet provides methodological monitoring of the deprivation index between 1991 and 2006, focusing on changes related to basic territorial units, socioeconomic indicators, and their integration. It presents the socioeconomic profile associated with the index, focusing on the Quebec (or national) version, while noting variations by geographic area.

Specific details related to the 2011 and 2016 versions of the index are documented in The material and social deprivation index: a summary (2019).

Pampalon, R., Hamel D. and Raymond G. 2004. Indice de défavorisation pour l’étude de la santé et du bien-être au Québec - Mise à jour 2001 (only available in French)

This document presents the 2001 update of the deprivation index, based on the 1996 census and other Statistics Canada sources. It details methodological changes concerning basic territorial units, the socioeconomic indicators used, and their integration. The authors also examine the procedures for assigning the index via postal codes and their impact on health databases (deaths and births). Finally, they discuss the implications of this update and list the computerized tools available in 2004 for using the index.

See also

• Deprivation index
• Surveillance des inégalités sociales de santé (in French)
• Suivre les inégalités sociales de santé au Québec – Santéscope (in French)

Other interesting websites

• Townsend Archives